Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries

Alleviating poverty for the elderly requires a different approach from other age groups, and a minimum pension is likely to be the only viable option. This paper examines the impact on old age poverty and the fiscal cost of universal minimum old ag...

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Main Authors: Dethier, Jean-Jacques, Pestieau, Pierre, Ali, Rabia
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
TAX
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100506135339
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3779
id okr-10986-3779
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ABSOLUTE TERMS
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
ARBITRAGE
ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
CASH TRANSFER
CHILD LABOR
CHILD MORTALITY
CITIZENSHIP
CONSUMPTION BASKET
CONSUMPTION DATA
CONVERSIONS
DECLINE IN POVERTY
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEPENDENCY RATIOS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
DURABLE
DURABLE GOODS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC TRANSITION
ELDERLY
ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS
ELDERLY PEOPLE
ELDERLY PERSONS
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
EXPENDITURE
EXTENDED FAMILIES
EXTENDED FAMILY
FAMILY COMPOSITION
FAMILY INCOME
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SIZE
FAMILY STRUCTURE
FAMILY STRUCTURES
FAMILY TIES
FAMILY UNIT
FAMILY UNITS
FERTILITY
FINANCIAL RISK
FISCAL CAPACITY
FISCAL POLICIES
FOOD POLICY
GENDER EQUALITY
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HEALTH CARE
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSING
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCIDENCE OF POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITIES
INCOME LEVEL
INCOME LEVELS
INCOME POVERTY
INDICATOR OF POVERTY
INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS
INEQUALITY
INFANT
INFLATION
INFLATION RATES
INSTRUMENT
INSURANCE
INSURANCE PREMIUM
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR FORCE
LABOR SUPPLY
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LOCAL CURRENCY
LOW POVERTY RATES
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MEANS TESTING
MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY
MICRODATA
MONETARY FUND
NATURAL RESOURCES
NEWBORN
NUMBER OF ADULTS
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
OLD AGE
OLD AGE PENSION
OLD AGE POVERTY
OLD-AGE
OLDER PEOPLE
PENSION
PENSION INCOME
PENSION REFORM
PENSION RIGHTS
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSION SYSTEMS
PENSIONS
PERSONAL INCOME
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL SUPPORT
POOR
POOR AREAS
POOR COUNTRIES
POOR FAMILIES
PORTFOLIO
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY GAP INDEX
POVERTY LEVEL
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY RATE
POVERTY RATES
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY THRESHOLD
PRICE SUBSIDIES
PROGRESS
PUBLIC POLICY
PURCHASING POWER
PURCHASING POWER PARITY
REDUCTION IN POVERTY
RESPECT
RETURN
RICHER COUNTRIES
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL INCOMES
RURAL POPULATION
RURAL WORKERS
SAFETY NET
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS
SOCIAL POLICY
SOCIAL PRESSURE
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL WELFARE
SPILLOVER
STOCK MARKET
TAX
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
TRANSPORTATION
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION DIVISION
URBAN POPULATION
WELFARE INDICATOR
WOMAN
WORLD POPULATION
spellingShingle ABSOLUTE TERMS
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
ARBITRAGE
ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BUDGET CONSTRAINT
CASH TRANSFER
CHILD LABOR
CHILD MORTALITY
CITIZENSHIP
CONSUMPTION BASKET
CONSUMPTION DATA
CONVERSIONS
DECLINE IN POVERTY
DEMAND FOR FOOD
DEPENDENCY RATIOS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
DURABLE
DURABLE GOODS
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC TRANSITION
ELDERLY
ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS
ELDERLY PEOPLE
ELDERLY PERSONS
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY
EXPENDITURE
EXTENDED FAMILIES
EXTENDED FAMILY
FAMILY COMPOSITION
FAMILY INCOME
FAMILY MEMBERS
FAMILY SIZE
FAMILY STRUCTURE
FAMILY STRUCTURES
FAMILY TIES
FAMILY UNIT
FAMILY UNITS
FERTILITY
FINANCIAL RISK
FISCAL CAPACITY
FISCAL POLICIES
FOOD POLICY
GENDER EQUALITY
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
HEALTH CARE
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES
HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSING
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT ON POVERTY
INCIDENCE OF POVERTY
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INCOME INEQUALITIES
INCOME LEVEL
INCOME LEVELS
INCOME POVERTY
INDICATOR OF POVERTY
INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS
INEQUALITY
INFANT
INFLATION
INFLATION RATES
INSTRUMENT
INSURANCE
INSURANCE PREMIUM
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE
LABOR FORCE
LABOR SUPPLY
LIFE EXPECTANCY
LOCAL CURRENCY
LOW POVERTY RATES
LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
MEANS TESTING
MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY
MICRODATA
MONETARY FUND
NATURAL RESOURCES
NEWBORN
NUMBER OF ADULTS
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
OLD AGE
OLD AGE PENSION
OLD AGE POVERTY
OLD-AGE
OLDER PEOPLE
PENSION
PENSION INCOME
PENSION REFORM
PENSION RIGHTS
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSION SYSTEMS
PENSIONS
PERSONAL INCOME
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL SUPPORT
POOR
POOR AREAS
POOR COUNTRIES
POOR FAMILIES
PORTFOLIO
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY GAP INDEX
POVERTY LEVEL
POVERTY LEVELS
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY RATE
POVERTY RATES
POVERTY REDUCTION
POVERTY THRESHOLD
PRICE SUBSIDIES
PROGRESS
PUBLIC POLICY
PURCHASING POWER
PURCHASING POWER PARITY
REDUCTION IN POVERTY
RESPECT
RETURN
RICHER COUNTRIES
RURAL
RURAL AREAS
RURAL INCOMES
RURAL POPULATION
RURAL WORKERS
SAFETY NET
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS
SOCIAL POLICY
SOCIAL PRESSURE
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SECURITY
SOCIAL WELFARE
SPILLOVER
STOCK MARKET
TAX
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
TRANSPORTATION
UNITED NATIONS POPULATION DIVISION
URBAN POPULATION
WELFARE INDICATOR
WOMAN
WORLD POPULATION
Dethier, Jean-Jacques
Pestieau, Pierre
Ali, Rabia
Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
geographic_facet Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean
relation Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5292
description Alleviating poverty for the elderly requires a different approach from other age groups, and a minimum pension is likely to be the only viable option. This paper examines the impact on old age poverty and the fiscal cost of universal minimum old age pensions in 18 Latin American countries using recent household survey data. First the authors measure old age poverty rates for these countries. Then they discuss the design of minimum pensions schemes -- means-tested or not -- as well as the disincentives they introduce for the economic and social behavior of households including labor supply, saving and family solidarity. Finally, the authors use household survey data to simulate the fiscal cost and the impact on poverty rates of alternative minimum pension schemes in the 18 countries. They show that a universal minimum pension would substantially reduce poverty among the elderly (except in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay where minimum pension systems already exist and poverty rates are low). Such schemes have much to be commended in terms of incentives, spillover effects and administrative simplicity, but they have a high fiscal cost. The latter is a function of the age at which benefits are awarded, the prevailing longevity, the generosity of benefits, the efficacy of means testing, and the fiscal capacity of the country.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Dethier, Jean-Jacques
Pestieau, Pierre
Ali, Rabia
author_facet Dethier, Jean-Jacques
Pestieau, Pierre
Ali, Rabia
author_sort Dethier, Jean-Jacques
title Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
title_short Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
title_full Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
title_fullStr Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
title_full_unstemmed Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries
title_sort universal minimum old age pensions : impact on poverty and fiscal cost in 18 latin american countries
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100506135339
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3779
_version_ 1764388296012595200
spelling okr-10986-37792021-04-23T14:02:12Z Universal Minimum Old Age Pensions : Impact on Poverty and Fiscal Cost in 18 Latin American Countries Dethier, Jean-Jacques Pestieau, Pierre Ali, Rabia ABSOLUTE TERMS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ARBITRAGE ASYMMETRIC INFORMATION BENEFICIARIES BENEFICIARY BUDGET CONSTRAINT CASH TRANSFER CHILD LABOR CHILD MORTALITY CITIZENSHIP CONSUMPTION BASKET CONSUMPTION DATA CONVERSIONS DECLINE IN POVERTY DEMAND FOR FOOD DEPENDENCY RATIOS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE DURABLE DURABLE GOODS ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC TRANSITION ELDERLY ELDERLY HOUSEHOLDS ELDERLY PEOPLE ELDERLY PERSONS EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY EXPENDITURE EXTENDED FAMILIES EXTENDED FAMILY FAMILY COMPOSITION FAMILY INCOME FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY SIZE FAMILY STRUCTURE FAMILY STRUCTURES FAMILY TIES FAMILY UNIT FAMILY UNITS FERTILITY FINANCIAL RISK FISCAL CAPACITY FISCAL POLICIES FOOD POLICY GENDER EQUALITY GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT HEALTH CARE HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD INCOMES HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON POVERTY INCIDENCE OF POVERTY INCOME INCOME GROWTH INCOME INEQUALITIES INCOME LEVEL INCOME LEVELS INCOME POVERTY INDICATOR OF POVERTY INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS INEQUALITY INFANT INFLATION INFLATION RATES INSTRUMENT INSURANCE INSURANCE PREMIUM INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL POVERTY LINE LABOR FORCE LABOR SUPPLY LIFE EXPECTANCY LOCAL CURRENCY LOW POVERTY RATES LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES MEANS TESTING MEASUREMENT OF POVERTY MICRODATA MONETARY FUND NATURAL RESOURCES NEWBORN NUMBER OF ADULTS NUMBER OF CHILDREN OLD AGE OLD AGE PENSION OLD AGE POVERTY OLD-AGE OLDER PEOPLE PENSION PENSION INCOME PENSION REFORM PENSION RIGHTS PENSION SYSTEM PENSION SYSTEMS PENSIONS PERSONAL INCOME POLICY RESEARCH POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL SUPPORT POOR POOR AREAS POOR COUNTRIES POOR FAMILIES PORTFOLIO POVERTY GAP POVERTY GAP INDEX POVERTY LEVEL POVERTY LEVELS POVERTY LINE POVERTY RATE POVERTY RATES POVERTY REDUCTION POVERTY THRESHOLD PRICE SUBSIDIES PROGRESS PUBLIC POLICY PURCHASING POWER PURCHASING POWER PARITY REDUCTION IN POVERTY RESPECT RETURN RICHER COUNTRIES RURAL RURAL AREAS RURAL INCOMES RURAL POPULATION RURAL WORKERS SAFETY NET SOCIAL AFFAIRS SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS SOCIAL POLICY SOCIAL PRESSURE SOCIAL PROTECTION SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL WELFARE SPILLOVER STOCK MARKET TAX TRANSITION ECONOMIES TRANSPORTATION UNITED NATIONS POPULATION DIVISION URBAN POPULATION WELFARE INDICATOR WOMAN WORLD POPULATION Alleviating poverty for the elderly requires a different approach from other age groups, and a minimum pension is likely to be the only viable option. This paper examines the impact on old age poverty and the fiscal cost of universal minimum old age pensions in 18 Latin American countries using recent household survey data. First the authors measure old age poverty rates for these countries. Then they discuss the design of minimum pensions schemes -- means-tested or not -- as well as the disincentives they introduce for the economic and social behavior of households including labor supply, saving and family solidarity. Finally, the authors use household survey data to simulate the fiscal cost and the impact on poverty rates of alternative minimum pension schemes in the 18 countries. They show that a universal minimum pension would substantially reduce poverty among the elderly (except in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay where minimum pension systems already exist and poverty rates are low). Such schemes have much to be commended in terms of incentives, spillover effects and administrative simplicity, but they have a high fiscal cost. The latter is a function of the age at which benefits are awarded, the prevailing longevity, the generosity of benefits, the efficacy of means testing, and the fiscal capacity of the country. 2012-03-19T18:39:40Z 2012-03-19T18:39:40Z 2010-05-01 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20100506135339 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3779 English Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5292 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Latin America & Caribbean Latin America & Caribbean