This paper summarizes the empirical evidence on how defaults impact retirement savings outcomes. After outlining the … defaults impact retirement savings outcomes at all stages of the savings lifecycle, including savings plan participation …, savings rates, asset allocation, and post-retirement savings distributions. The paper then discusses why defaults have such a …

Medium- and long-run dynamics undermine the effect of automatic enrollment and default savings-rate auto-escalation on … retirement savings. Our analysis of nine 401(k) plans incorporates the facts that employees frequently leave firms (often before …

savings during their working years. For every $1 that flows into 401(k)s and similar accounts, between 30¢ and 40¢ leaks out … with helping households accumulate liquid savings that can be deployed when urgent pre-retirement needs arise …. Automatically enrolling workers into an employer-sponsored "rainy-day" or "emergency" savings account--terms that we use …

Can governments increase private savings by taxing savings up front instead of in retirement? Roth 401(k) contributions …