Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T02:07:27.179Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Occupational pensions, tenure, and taxes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2010

ERIK HERNÆS*
Affiliation:
The Frisch Centre
JOHN PIGGOTT
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales and the Frisch Centre
TAO ZHANG
Affiliation:
The Frisch Centre
STEINAR STRØM
Affiliation:
University of Turin and the Frisch Centre
*

Abstract

The occurrence in firms of occupational pensions is investigated with a linked employer–employee dataset, supplemented with actuarial calculations of tax savings when labour compensation is in the form of pensions compared to wages. Tax gains, which can be shared between employers and employees, and expected increases in average tenure are both clearly associated with the occurrence of an occupational pension. Occupational pensions are typically found in large firms, with decentralized wage negotiations, a high degree of unionization, and the requirement of long training. The results and the approach provide a basis for analyzing also the trend towards DB pensions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrietti, Vincenzo and Patacchini, Eleonora (2004) Occupational pensions, wages and tenure wage profiles. Working Paper 04–36, Economics Series June 2004. Departamento de Economia, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.Google Scholar
Decressin, Anja, Lane, Julia, McCue, Kristin, and Stinson, Martha (2005) Employer-Provided Benefit Plans, Workforce Composition and Firm Outcomes, US Census Bureau.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dorsey, Stuart (1987) The economic functions of private pensions: an empirical analysis. Journal of Labor Economics, 5(4): S171S189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dorsey, Stuart (1995) Pension portability and labor market efficiency: a survey of the literature. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 48(2): 276292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dummann, Kathrin (2008) What determines supply and demand for occupational pensions in Germany? Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 7(2): 131156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ehrenberg, Ronald G. (1980) Retirement system characteristics and compensating wage differential in the public sector. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 33(4): 470483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Even, William W. and Macpherson, David A. (1996) Employer size and labour turnover: the role of pensions. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 49(4): 707728.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finansnæringens hovedorganisasjon (2004) Livstatistikk – 02/04 Markedsandeler – endelige tall og regnskapsstatistikk, Finansnæringens hovedorganisasjon (Norwegian only).Google Scholar
Freeman, Richard (1981) The effect of unionism on fringe benefits. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 34(4): 489509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunderson, Morley, Hyatt, Douglas, and Pesando, James E. (1992) Wage–pension trade-offs in collective agreements. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 46(1): 146160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gustman, Alan L., Mitchell, Olivia S., and Steinmeier, Thomas L. (1994) The role of pensions in the labour market: a survey of the literature. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 47(3): 417438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gustman, Alan L. and Steinmeier, Thomas L. (1993) Pension portability and labor mobility: evidence from the survey of income and program participation. Journal of Public Economics, 50: 299323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hernæs, Erik and Zhang, Tao (2006) Cost and coverage of occupational pensions. Working paper 1/2006, Frisch Centre.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horiba, Yutaka and Yoshida, Karzuo (2002) Determinants of Japanese corporate pension coverage. Journal of Economics and Business, 54: 537555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ippolito, Richard A. (1991) Encouraging long-term tenure: wage tilt or pensions? Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 44(3): 520535.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ippolito, Richard A. (1997) Pension Plans and Employee Performance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Leigh, Duane E. (1981) The effect of unionism on workers' valuation of future pension benefits. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 34(4): 510521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Love, David, Smith, Paul A., and Wilcox, David (2007) Why do firms offer risky defined- benefit pension plans? National Tax Journal, 60(3): 507519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
The Ministry of labour and social inclusion (2009) The Norwegian Social Insurance Scheme (available on request from the authors).Google Scholar
Mitchell, Olivia S. (2000) Developments in pensions. In Dionne, G. (ed.), Handbook of Insurance. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 873899.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
New Zealand Government (2001) Report of the Government Actuary for the year ended 30 June 2001.Google Scholar
Pedersen, Axel West (2000) The coverage with occupational pensions in Norway. FAFO-notat 2000:23.Google Scholar
Poterba, James M. (2004) Valuing assets in retirement saving accounts. National Tax Journal, 57(2): 489512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Summary of Report No. 12 (2004–2005) to the Storting: Pension Reform – Safeguarding Our Pensions (2005) http://web.archive.org/web/20060202072337/www.pensjonsreform.no/english.asp?id=22 Google Scholar