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The Stampede Toward Defined Contribution Pension Plans: Fact or Fiction?
Author(s) -
GUSTMAN ALAN L.,
STEINMEIER THOMAS L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
industrial relations: a journal of economy and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.61
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1468-232X
pISSN - 0019-8676
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-232x.1992.tb00314.x
Subject(s) - pension , pension plan , plan (archaeology) , business , economics , actuarial science , finance , geography , archaeology
This paper questions recent conclusions that the trend in primary plan type toward defined contribution plans and away from defined benefit plans is due to increased pension regulation. Analysis of data from IRS 5500 filings by pension administrators shows that at least half of the trend is due to a shift in employment mix toward firms with industry, size, and union status that have historically been associated with lower defined benefit plan rates. Not more than half of the trend can be attributed to a “stampede” by firms with given industry, size, and union status toward defined contribution pension coverage.