Private Pensions

OECD reviews private pension systems in member countries, analyses policy and technical issues, formulates policy recommendations and promotes policy dialogue with non-OECD countries. The Global Pension Statistics project aims to provide a valuable device for measuring and monitoring the pension industry. Permanent url: www.oecd.org/daf/pensions.

What's new

Private Pensions and Policy Responses to the Crisis

23-Jun-2009

This report describes why occupational pensions play a major role in OECD countries and worldwide, complementing retirement income from state sources. Their financial importance is highlighted by the volume of assets they manage on behalf of plan members, USD 22 trillion at the end of 2008. Population ageing has also led many OECD countries to undertake a wide range of pension reforms – the overall effect of which has been to reduce public pension promises and in turn to increase the importance of private pension savings for retirement.

OECD research supports risk-sharing in private pension arrangements

23-Jun-2009

A new article ("Evaluating Risk Sharing in Private Pension Plans", forthcoming in FMT) analyses the main trade-offs embedded in different pension arrangements. The stochastic simulations performed show that hybrid plans (those in between traditional DB and individual DC) appear to offer efficient and sustainable forms of risk sharing.

Private pensions and policy responses to the financial and economic crisis

21-Apr-2009

This paper discusses responses to the current financial and economic crisis by regulators, supervisors and policy makers in the area of private pensions. It focuses on the role of private pensions in complementing public systems and on how to design pension systems to introduce some degree of protection, improve sustainability of funding, enhance management and supervision, and step up disclosure and communication.

OECD launches Private Pensions Outlook

12-Feb-2009

As the role of private pension systems grows in importance, the OECD is monitoring their development and reviewing their performance in an international context. This new publication provides essential data on investments, membership, benefits, and industry structure based on the latest official statistics available, as well as featuring a special report on the implications of the financial crisis for pensions and private pensions policy.

Strategic options to finance pensions and healthcare in a rapidly ageing world

09-Feb-2009

The financial crisis  is severely testing the soundness of pension and health care systems in OECD countries and many are not passing the test. At the World Economic Forum, Secretary-General Angel Gurría urged policy makers to act.

Financial Market Trends No.96

05-May-2009

This edition, forthcoming in June, focuses on the policy issues and responses with regard to the financial and economic crisis. Topics include corporate governance lessons from the financial crisis as well as issues related to government guarantees extended to financial institutions. It also contains articles on options for retirement savings and on crisis-related effects and policy responses in the area of private pensions. Several articles are already available for download in a pre-release version.

Asian countries should reform their pension systems

07-Jan-2009

Many Asian countries will need to reform their pension systems in order to deliver sustainable and adequate retirement incomes for today’s workers, according to a new OECD report.

Pension fund losses highlight need for private pension reform, says OECD

11-Dec-2008

The ongoing financial crisis has dealt a heavy blow to private pension systems. The latest issue of Pension Markets in Focus takes a close look at the impact of the crisis and discusses possible policy interventions, both immediate and longer term.

OECD seminar on the payout phase of pensions, annuities and financial Markets

on 12-Nov-2008

Representatives from OECD governments, academia and private sector discussed proposals to support private pension systems, and in particular, improve the management of risks in the retirement stage of individual account (defined contribution, DC) pension systems. Participants also discussed the impact of the financial crisis, and longer term issues affecting the sector such as increasing life expectancy.

See more news and events… Top of page

OECD expert, Fiona Stewart, talks about the impact of the crisis on private pensions

Private pensions and the crisis

December 2008

Special focus on private pensions and the financial crisis

Pension Markets in Focus

Publication

Covering 58 countries worldwide

Complementary and Private Pensions throughout the World 2008

Bookshop

Comprehensive analysis, practical solutions and good practices

Improving Financial Education and Awareness on Insurance and Private Pensions