China's Pension System : A Vision
China is at a critical juncture in its economic transition. A comprehensive reform of its pension and social security systems is an essential element of a strategy aimed toward achieving a harmonious society and sustainable development. Among polic...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Publication |
Language: | English en_US |
Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2013
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/01/17406669/chinas-pension-system-vision http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13102 |
Summary: | China is at a critical juncture in its
economic transition. A comprehensive reform of its pension
and social security systems is an essential element of a
strategy aimed toward achieving a harmonious society and
sustainable development. Among policy makers, a widely held
view is that the approach to pension provision and reform
efforts piloted over the last 10-15 years is insufficient to
enable China's economy and population to realize its
development objectives in the years ahead. This volume
suggests a national pension system that no longer
distinguishes along urban and rural locational or hukou
lines yet takes account of the diverse nature of employment
relations and capacity of individuals to make contributions.
This volume is organized as follows: the main text outlines
this vision, focusing on summarizing the key features of a
proposed long-term pension system. It first examines key
trends motivating the need for reform then outlines the
proposed three-pillar design and the rationale behind the
design choices. It then moves on to examine financing
options. The text continues by discussing institutional
reform issues, and the final section concludes. The six
appendixes provide additional analytical detail supporting
the findings in the main text. The pension system design can
play an important role in supporting or constraining such
economic and demographic transitions: 1) fragmentation and
lack of portability of rights hinder labor market efficiency
and contribute to coverage gaps; 2) multiple schemes for
salaried workers, civil servants, and, in some areas,
migrants similarly impact labor markets; 3) legacy costs
that are largely financed through current pension
contributions weaken incentives for compliance and accurate
wage reporting; 4) very limited risk pooling and interurban
resource transfers limit the insurance function of the urban
pension system and create spatial disparities in old-age
income protection; 5) low retirement ages affect incentives
and benefits and undermine fiscal sustainability; and 6)
relatively low returns on individual accounts result in
replacement rates significantly less than anticipated while
at the macro level, are likely to inhibit wider efforts to
stimulate higher domestic consumption. |
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