Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality
Abstract Entitlements for social security and occupational pensions present a major wealth component and play a central role for financial security. However, most individual-level data lacks information on pension wealth. By linking various data sources, this contribution estimates the present value...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41937-020-00063-9 |
| _version_ | 1819005573942738944 |
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| author | Ursina Kuhn |
| author_facet | Ursina Kuhn |
| author_sort | Ursina Kuhn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Entitlements for social security and occupational pensions present a major wealth component and play a central role for financial security. However, most individual-level data lacks information on pension wealth. By linking various data sources, this contribution estimates the present value of future pension entitlements in Switzerland for statutory pensions, occupational pensions and third pillar accounts and analyses the distribution of augmented wealth, which combines pension wealth and net worth. The CH-SILC survey from 2015 is used to estimate real assets, financial assets and pension wealth of retired individuals. The pension entitlements of non-retired individuals are simulated on the basis of their earning history from administrative records following the accrual method and assuming a real discount rate of 2%. When pension wealth is added to net worth, average wealth doubles, and the Gini-coefficient declines by 26%. The equalising effect is particularly strong for social security pensions. The wealth distribution differs strongly between the three pillars of the pension system; there are also strong differences between gender and age groups. In Switzerland, wealth accumulation continues after retirement age. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:54:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19ada1a6c2614550848574bc0eb0bfee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2235-6282 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:54:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics |
| spelling | doaj.art-19ada1a6c2614550848574bc0eb0bfee2022-12-21T19:22:44ZengSpringerOpenSwiss Journal of Economics and Statistics2235-62822020-11-01156111610.1186/s41937-020-00063-9Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequalityUrsina Kuhn0Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), C/o Université de LausanneAbstract Entitlements for social security and occupational pensions present a major wealth component and play a central role for financial security. However, most individual-level data lacks information on pension wealth. By linking various data sources, this contribution estimates the present value of future pension entitlements in Switzerland for statutory pensions, occupational pensions and third pillar accounts and analyses the distribution of augmented wealth, which combines pension wealth and net worth. The CH-SILC survey from 2015 is used to estimate real assets, financial assets and pension wealth of retired individuals. The pension entitlements of non-retired individuals are simulated on the basis of their earning history from administrative records following the accrual method and assuming a real discount rate of 2%. When pension wealth is added to net worth, average wealth doubles, and the Gini-coefficient declines by 26%. The equalising effect is particularly strong for social security pensions. The wealth distribution differs strongly between the three pillars of the pension system; there are also strong differences between gender and age groups. In Switzerland, wealth accumulation continues after retirement age.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41937-020-00063-9Net worthAugmented wealthPension wealthWealth inequalityLife cycleSILC |
| spellingShingle | Ursina Kuhn Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics Net worth Augmented wealth Pension wealth Wealth inequality Life cycle SILC |
| title | Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| title_full | Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| title_fullStr | Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| title_short | Augmented wealth in Switzerland: the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| title_sort | augmented wealth in switzerland the influence of pension wealth on wealth inequality |
| topic | Net worth Augmented wealth Pension wealth Wealth inequality Life cycle SILC |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41937-020-00063-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ursinakuhn augmentedwealthinswitzerlandtheinfluenceofpensionwealthonwealthinequality |