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Article
Reference-dependent preferences, time inconsistency, and pay-as-you-go pensions
Economic Inquiry
  • Torben M. Andersen, Aarhus University
  • Joydeep Bhattacharya, Iowa State University
  • Qing Liu, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
7-1-2021
DOI
10.1111/ecin.12972
Abstract

The classic Aaron–Samuelson result argues that pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pension schemes cannot coexist with higher-return, private, retirement-saving schemes. The ensuing literature shows if agents voluntarily undersave for retirement due to myopia or time-inconsistency, then a paternalistic, rationale for PAYG pensions arises only if voluntary retirement saving is fully crowded out because of a binding borrowing constraint. This paper generalizes the discussion to the reference-dependent utility setup of Kőszegi and Rabin (2009) where undersaving happens naturally. No borrowing constraint is imposed. We show it is possible to offer a non-paternalistic, welfare rationale for return-dominated, PAYG pensions to coexist with private, retirement saving.

Comments

This article is published as Andersen, Torben M., Joydeep Bhattacharya, and Qing Liu. "Reference‐dependent preferences, time inconsistency, and pay‐as‐you‐go pensions." Economic Inquiry 59, no. 3 (2021): 1008-1030. doi:10.1111/ecin.12972.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Torben M. Andersen, Joydeep Bhattacharya and Qing Liu. "Reference-dependent preferences, time inconsistency, and pay-as-you-go pensions" Economic Inquiry Vol. 59 Iss. 3 (2021) p. 1008 - 1030
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joydeep_bhattacharya/78/