Open AccessComplementary funded pensions and economic growth: Theoretical and empirical evidence using an overlapping generations model applied to the case of Tunisia
Author(s) -
Houyem Chekki Cherni
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
economic annals/ekonomski anali
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.148
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1820-7375
pISSN - 0013-3264
DOI - 10.2298/eka2131059c
Subject(s) - overlapping generations model , economics , pension , crowding out , computable general equilibrium , growth model , capital accumulation , general equilibrium theory , empirical evidence , human capital , macroeconomics , economic growth , finance , philosophy , epistemology
This paper presents a prospective analysis to guide effective pension reform. Using an overlapping generations model with differing returns on free savings and compulsory returns on funded pensions, we put into perspective the results largely supported in the economic literature that assume that replacing a pay-as-you-go pension scheme by funded plans boosts economic growth. We show that this reform is not necessarily synonymous with economic growth due to a crowding-out effect. Our contribution is not limited to theoretical results: we also assess the impacts empirically. Thus, we extend the theoretical model to take into account several periods and 55 generations. Simulation results, using a dynamic overlapping generations computable general equilibrium model calibrated for the Tunisian case, indicate that whether pension reform promotes capital accumulation and economic growth depends on the rate of return on funded pension savings relative to free savings.