Everyone gains, but some more than others

Abstract

Within collective pension plans, the uniform contribution rates cause considerable redistribution. Women benefit more from the retirement pension than men, while benefiting less from the partner's pension. Single people benefit less from schemes than partnered members. The option of exchanging the accrued partner's pension for supplementary retirement pension has made the differences smaller, however. Additionally, the inequality between employees with longer and short careers has decreased due to the transition from final pay to average earnings schemes. When calculating their premiums, life insurers do make distinctions between characteristics of the members. However, the costs of private insurance products are so high, that nevertheless nearly everyone is cheaper off with a collective pension.