A UNIVERSAL FULLY FUNDED PENSION SCHEME

This paper puts forward a public pension scheme that is fully funded for each cohort and covers everybody. The scheme is an application of the generational accounting concept. As compared to pay-as-you-go schemes, it is free of the vagaries of uncertain demographic changes. Because payouts for each cohort are directly related to contributions, it is also free of political pressures to increase benefits. The paper looks at various refinements to the scheme and compares it with the Mandatory Private Provident Fund, which has become popular in recent years. Copyright 1997 Western Economic Association International.