Paychecks or Promises? Lessons from the Death Spiral of Detroit
Pay-with-promises compensation plans accumulate liability for future employee benefits, such as retiree health insurance. A simple economic model demonstrates that such plans can exacerbate fiscal crises faced by cities that experience external economic shocks, such as the departure of a major employer. City leaders often raise taxes and/or reduce public services to pay off legacy employee debts, and such steps encourage residents to move out, reducing the tax base and raising fiscal stress. Pay-as-you-go compensation plans are more prudent; they settle liabilities to employees paycheck by paycheck.
Year of publication: |
2014-09-25
|
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Authors: | Ohanian, Lee E. ; Holmes, Thomas J. |
Institutions: | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis |
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