Countries exhibit considerable variety in the design of pension systems. Apparently, the pension system can be organized in many alternative ways, with alternative allocations of the functions of the pension system to different institutions or ‘pillars’ in the system.

Both the impacts of financial incentives and health on transitions into retirement and inactivity by older workers have been studied extensively in a variety of contexts but far less is known about their interaction.

Pension is a complex product. It is a long term investment good, which faces much uncertainty, learning-by-doing is limited and insight in the broader picture of personal finance is required to save optimally. On top of the complexity of the product, human irrationality and illiteracy decrease the chance of spreading consumption optimally.

Is there a causal link, positive or negative, from retirement age to mortality? Leaving employment may involve reduced stress and greater enjoyment of life, suggesting that early retirement enhances longevity. However, it may also lead to reduced mental and physical activity, loss of social networks, and health-adverse habits, suggesting that later retirement may extend expected lifespan.

Pension is a complex product. It is a long term investment good, which faces much uncertainty, learning-by-doing is limited and insight in the broader picture of personal finance is required to save optimally.

This paper compares notional defined-contribution pension schemes (also known as notional accounts) with two alternative designs of earnings-related pension schemes: points systems and definedbenefit plans.

Disabled people face higher costs of living than do non-disabled people. These additional costs include the cost of adapting the home, overcoming the difficulties of getting about, and acquiring assistance with everyday tasks that non-disabled people can do unaided.

An influential body of research studies the labor supply and earnings of denied Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) applicants to estimate the potential employment and earnings of
those awarded benefits. This research design implicitly treats employability as a stable applicant
attribute that is not directly impacted by the process of applying for SSDI benefits. If, plausibly,
applicants’ employment potential deteriorates while they are out of the labor force, then the labor
force participation of denied applicants -- who spend an average of 10 months seeking benefits may understate their employment potential at the time of application.

This paper provides a comparative analysis of defined contribution (DC) pension systems in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are considerable similarities in the systems which have evolved out of employer sponsored trust-based defined benefit (DB) systems and have expanded at different rates as DB has declined.

A number of countries have introduced notional defined-contribution pensions as a replacement
for public pensions of the defined-benefit type. Among OECD and EU countries, for example, these comprise Italy, Latvia, Poland and Sweden. There has been a great deal of interest in other countries in this approach to pension reform.

Policymakers have designed Social Security to be a progressive retirement program that replaces a larger share of monthly earnings for low- and middle-income workers than for high earners. However, previous research has found that, although the Dis-ability Insurance (DI) component of Social Security is very progressive, the Old-Age and Survivors Insur-ance (OASI) component may be less progressive than intended. One reason is that high earners tend to live longer than low earners. Since Social Security pays an annuity that lasts throughout retirement, it benefits high earners with greater longevity.

The Great Recession has resulted in the highest national unemployment rate in nearly 30 years, and those who find themselves unemployed remain jobless longer than ever before. In response, the federal government has extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for up to 99 weeks, almost a year and a half longer than normal durations.