This chapter describes the operation of both the compulsory pension annuity and voluntary annuity markets in the U.K. and evaluates prices using a money's worth approach. We find that the money's worth was about 0.90 to 2004 but it then fell to about 0.80, although there is uncertainty about the...

The "money's worth" measure has been used to assess whether annuities are fairly valued and also as evidence for adverse selection in the annuity market. However, a regulated life assurer with concerns about predicting long-run mortality may price annuities to reduce these risks which will...

We provide the first analysis of annuity rates in the Netherlands for the period 2001-2012. During this period, the number of annuity providers was high and stable and we find that falls in annuity rates can be explained entirely by changes in yields and life expectancy. We show that annuitants...

This paper examines the impact of a company's pension contributions on its dividend and investment policies. The effects of shocks to cash flows on these corporate expenditures are identified by changes to pension funding regulations. Using a sample of DB pension schemes in FTSE350 UK listed...

Using data on historical returns on international financial assets, the paper simulates pension fund and pension replacement ratios, building up frequency distributions of these ratios for individuals saving in a defined contribution pension plan in different countries. These frequency...

This paper examines the effect of a company's unfunded pension liabilities on its stock market valuation. Using a sample of UK FTSE350 firms with defined benefit pension schemes, we find that although unfunded pension liabilities reduce the market value of the firm, the coefficient estimates...

The purpose of this report is very specific: to stimulate debate about the proposal by the UK government to end the mandatory requirement to purchase annuities in pension schemes as formally announced in the Budget Statement on 22 June 2010