Company Pension Plans, Stock Market Returns, and Labor Demand

Author/Editor:

Enrica Detragiache

Publication Date:

November 1, 2003

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

With asset values falling sharply in recent years, many companies around the world are under pressure to restore the solvency of their defined-benefit pension plans. Will this lead to higher contributions? Will higher contributions increase labor costs and reduce employment? Does this mechanism exacerbate economic downturns? What are the economic effects of pension fund regulation? This paper develops a theoretical model to address these questions. Although its scope is more general, the model captures the main institutional features of the pension system in the Netherlands, a country where the economic effects of the pension shock are widely debated.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2003/222

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

November 1, 2003

ISBN/ISSN:

9781451875287/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2222003

Pages:

19

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