Most international locations are grappling with the social, financial and monetary results of getting older populations, making the supply of economic safety in retirement vital for people and societies alike.
Retirees right now additionally face growing dangers with the reemergence of inflation and rising rates of interest, growing the price of present authorities debt and due to this fact the power of some governments to proceed their present ranges of service. Add to that rising geopolitical uncertainty, which inevitably impacts funding returns.
The Mercer CFA Institute International Pension Index benchmarks retirement revenue methods world wide, highlighting challenges and alternatives inside every. With the addition of Botswana, Croatia and Kazakhstan to the combo, the 2023 index numbers 47 international locations.
The report acknowledges that every system has developed from explicit financial, social, cultural, political and historic circumstances, that means that no single system could be transplanted from one nation and utilized, with out change, to a different.
It notes, nevertheless, that sure options and traits are more likely to result in improved monetary advantages for the older members of society, an elevated probability of future sustainability of the system, and a higher stage of group belief and confidence.
The index used three subindexes to measure every retirement revenue system towards greater than 50 indicators. The general index worth for every nation’s system represents the weighted common of the three subindexes:
- The adequacy subindex represents the advantages offered, along with some necessary system design options: 40% weighting
- The sustainability subindex makes use of varied indicators that affect the probability that the present system will be capable of present advantages sooner or later: 35% weighting
- The integrity subindex contains many legislative necessities that affect the general governance and operations of the system, affecting the extent of confidence that the residents of every nation have of their system: 25% weighting
Every nation’s total index worth obtained a letter grade, with 4 assigned an A – indicating that they’ve a first-class and strong retirement revenue system that delivers good advantages, is sustainable and has a excessive stage of integrity. The 15 international locations that earned a B or B+ have a system with a sound construction and plenty of good options but additionally some areas for enchancment.
C+ and C international locations have methods with some good options but additionally main dangers and/or shortcomings; with out enchancment, their efficacy and long-term sustainability could be questioned. Twenty-three of the 47 international locations fall into this space.
5 international locations obtained a grade of D, indicating that their methods have some fascinating options but additionally main weaknesses and/or omissions that should be addressed. No nation obtained the bottom grade, E.
How america Ranks
The U.S. index worth decreased from 63.9 in 2022 to 63.0 in 2023, primarily due to adjustments within the integrity subindex. This resulted in a grade of C+. The U.S. system ranks twenty second among the many 47 international locations. By way of the subindexes, it ranks twenty fourth for adequacy, sixteenth for sustainability and forty first for integrity.
The report mentioned the general index worth for the U.S. system might be elevated by elevating the minimal profit for low-income retirees, by bettering the vesting of advantages for all plan members and sustaining the actual worth of retained advantages by retirement.
As well as, the U.S. system may scale back preretirement leakage by additional limiting entry to funds earlier than retirement.
See the accompanying gallery for the world’s high 15 retirement revenue methods, in line with the Mercer CFA Institute International Pension Index.