Little is known about the degree to which individuals are uncertain about their future Social Security benefits, how this varies within the U.S. population, and whether this uncertainty influences financial decisions related to retirement planning. To illuminate these issues, we present...

This paper develops a life-cycle utility model of the preferences of retirees, with joint consideration of bequest motive, housing decision and public pension. The model parameters are calibrated to the ABS data of Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and Housing. The calibrated...

Means-tested pension policies are typical for many countries and are very important to the pension system. These policies are specific for each country, and the assessment of policy changes is critical for policy makers. In this paper we consider the Australian means-tested Age Pension. The...

In this paper we develop a retirement model under the expected utility stochastic control framework to find optimal decisions with respect to the consumption, risky asset allocation, access to annuities, reverse mortgage and the option to scale housing. The model is solved numerically using...

In this paper, we develop an expected utility model for the retirement behavior in the decumulation phase of Australian retirees with sequential family status subject to consumption, housing, investment, bequest and government provided means-tested Age Pension. We account for mortality risk and...

Mandatory contributions to retirement savings accounts may tighten existing borrowing constraints, forcing individuals to forgo profitable investment options. This welfare-detrimental effect can be offset if retirement savings are allowed to serve as collateral. Moreover, some credit market...

The Australian Government uses the means-test as a way of managing the pension budget. Changes in Age Pension policy impose difficulties in retirement modelling due to policy risk, but any major changes tend to be ‘grandfathered' meaning that current retirees are exempt from the new changes....

In this paper, we develop a retirement model under the expected utility stochastic control framework to find optimal decisions with respect to consumption, risky asset allocation, access to annuities, reverse mortgage and the option to scale housing. The model is solved numerically using...

Can the freedom to choose how retirement funds are invested leave workers worse off? We analyze social risks of allowing choice, using the Social Security system as an example. Comparing a privatized alternative with the current system via simulation, we document that choice in both equity...