Utility-equivalence of pension security mechanisms

Adequate funding of occupational pension plans is key to benefit security. Across countries different methods of securing funding exist: solvency requirements, a pension guarantee fund, and sponsor support. The key goal of this paper is to investigate the welfare implications to the beneficiary in a hybrid pension scheme. We show that the three security mechanisms can be made utility-equivalent by adjusting the pension contract specifications. The utility-equivalence approach could serve to strengthen the \holistic balance sheet" approach as advised by EIOPA. It enables regulators to compare various pension systems across Europe in a single framework from a utility perspective instead of a valuation perspective.
 
Keywords: Pension plans, pension regulation, guarantee systems, power utility, certainty equivalents.
JEL Codes: G11, G23.

Working paper no. 414