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Preferences for redistribution and pensions. What can we learn from experiments?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2013

FRANZISKA TAUSCH ,
JAN POTTERS  and
ARNO RIEDL
FRANZISKA TAUSCH
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, Maastricht University, and Netspar (e-mail: [email protected])
JAN POTTERS
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, CentER, Tiber, Tilburg University, and Netspar
ARNO RIEDL
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, Maastricht University, IZA, CESifo, and Netspar
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Abstract

Redistribution is an inevitable feature of collective pension schemes and economic experiments have revealed that most people have a preference for redistribution that is not merely inspired by self-interest. However, little is known on how these preferences interact with preferences for different pension schemes. In this paper, we review the experimental evidence on preferences for redistribution and suggest some links to redistribution through pensions. For that purpose we distinguish between three types of situations. The first deals with distributional preferences behind a veil of ignorance. In the second type of situation, individuals make choices in front of the veil of ignorance and know their position. Finally, we discuss situations in which income is determined by interdependent rather than individual choices. In the closing sections of the paper, we discuss whether and how these experimental results speak to the redistribution issues of pensions. For example, do they argue for or against mandatory participation? Should we have less redistribution and more actuarial fairness? How does this depend on the type of redistribution involved?

Keywords

Experimental economicsredistribution preferencespension systemssolidarity
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Pension Economics & Finance , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , July 2013 , pp. 298 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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