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One pillar crumbling, the others too short: old-age provision in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Martin Werding
Martin Werding*
Affiliation:
Professor of Social Policy and Public Finance, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
*
e-mail: martin.werding@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
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Abstract

Responding to the challenges of demographic ageing, the German system of old-age provision has undergone substantial changes during the past two decades and is in fact still under reconstruction. Benefit levels deriving from the public pay-as-you-go scheme will decline until 2060, while contribution rates may still go up substantially. Additional cover from private or occupational pension schemes is urgently needed. Thus far, steps in this direction have been half-hearted. The continuing crisis in financial markets and a more profound distrust in financial institutions and market-based instruments of old-age provision currently create obstacles to progress with this overhaul. Nevertheless, despite the differing traditions, Germany could learn important lessons now from other developed countries that have longer experience of funded pensions.

Keywords

old-age provisionpublic pensionsoccupational pensionsprecautionary savingdemographic ageingpension reformsimulationsE27G28H55J11J26
Type
Research Articles
Information
National Institute Economic Review , Volume 237 , August 2016 , pp. R13 - R21
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 National Institute of Economic and Social Research

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