Pension and Intergenerational Balance - A case study of Norway, Poland and Germany using Generational Accounting

Main Article Content

Natalie Laub
Christian Hagist

Abstract

In this paper we apply the method of Generational Accounting to analyse whether today’s government policy burdens future generations with a heavier load than current generations. We analyse pay-as-you-go pension systems and their reforms in Norway, Poland and Germany. Our results show that, through these reforms, pension systems in all three countries became more intergenerationally balanced as the implicit debt to be paid by future generations was reduced. However, the burden is shared differently: in Norway
current pensioners have to contribute to enhancing the financial sustainability of the pension system while Poland and Germany seem to protect current pensioners at the expense of younger generations.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Natalie Laub, Universität Freiburg



Natalie Laub received her Diploma in Economics from the University of Freiburg (Germany) in 2012 after four years of studies. Since 2012 she has been a PhD student/researcher at the Research Center for Generational Contracts (University of Freiburg, Germany). Her research interests are in the fields of social security, demography, pension systems and implications of pension reforms – both regarding fiscal sustainability and (in)equality.

Christian Hagist, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management



Prof. Dr. Hagist is the director of the DIE FAMILIENUNTERNEHMER endowed Chair of Intergenerational Economic Policy at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. In addition to his academic work, he is an online-columnist and policy consultant, for instance giving testimony at parliament hearings.