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2016 ASTIN Colloquium
Lisbon, Portugal

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General Insurance

Some Guiding Principles for the Development of Self-Adjusting Mechanisms for Sustainable Retirement Systems

Most of the developed countries are experiencing fertility rates below population replacement levels and increasing life expectancy. These demographic factors are exerting a financial strain on the delivery of social security retirement benefits. In response to these and other pressures, some countries have adopted mechanisms that are designed to make the system self-adjust, so that it is sustainable. A sustainable system is one that delivers on its financial commitments in such a way that the financial burden is borne equitably by participants over the long term. Based on a review of the analysis of the self-adjustment mechanisms of Canada, Germany, Japan and Sweden, this paper derives five guiding principles for the development of self-adjustment mechanisms for sustainable social security retirement systems. The list is not presented as complete, but is a starting point for those designing or adopting adjustment mechanisms and for researchers.
Speakers: Doug Andrews
June 1, 2016