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Article
On Myopia as Rationale for Social Security
Economic Theory
  • Torben M. Andersen, Aarhus University
  • Joydeep Bhattacharya, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
5-1-2011
DOI
10.1007/s00199-010-0528-z
Abstract

This paper revisits the role played by myopia in generating a theoretical rationale for pay-as-you-go social security in dynamically efficient economies. Contrary to received wisdom, if the real interest rate is exogenously fixed, enough myopia may justify public pensions but never alongside positive private savings. With sufficient myopia, co-existence of positive optimal pensions and positive private saving is possible if the real interest rate on saving evolves endogenously, as in a model with a neoclassical technology.

Comments

This is a working paper of an article published as Andersen, T.M., Bhattacharya, J. On myopia as rationale for social security. Econ Theory 47, 135–158 (2011). doi:10.1007/s00199-010-0528-z. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Springer-Verlag
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Torben M. Andersen and Joydeep Bhattacharya. "On Myopia as Rationale for Social Security" Economic Theory Vol. 47 (2011) p. 135 - 158
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joydeep_bhattacharya/74/