Equity assets in retirement plans dropped in value by about $4 trillion between October 9, 2007 and October 9, 2008. The decline was divided equally between defined benefit and 401(k)/Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The decline in the defined benefit arena was in turn divided equally...

Between October 9, 2007 and October 9, 2008, the value of equities in retirement plans dropped by about $4 trillion, with the decline divided equally between defined benefit and 401(k)/Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). The decline in the defined benefit arena was in turn divided equally...

In this paper we deal with the financial sector of CANDIDE 1.1. We are concerned with the determination of the short-term interest rate, the term structure equations, and the channels through which monetary policy influences the real sector.

Detroit's bankruptcy and Chicago's financial problems and large unfunded pension liabilities have attracted national concern. The question is whether cities across the country are about to topple like dominoes—and whether pensions are the problem. The answer, the authors write, appears to be...

The policy option of extending mandatory Social Security coverage to newly hired uncovered state and local workers is often included in packages to eliminate the program’s financing shortfall. The arguments for mandatory coverage go beyond financial considerations, though, as extending...

The brief’s key findings are: The brief’s key findings are: *Some state and local governments issue Pension Obligation Bonds (POBs) to cover their required pension contributions. *POBs offer budget relief and potential cost savings, but also carry significant risk. *POBs had a negative...

Many state and local governments have responded to challenges facing their pension plans by cutting benefits. Will these cuts make it harder for state and local governments to recruit and retain high-quality workers? To date, the answer has been difficult to obtain; most micro-level datasets...

This brief presents a new tool that describes the evolu­tion of the unfunded liability for each of the 150 plans in the Public Plans Database. The period of analysis is from 2001, when most plans were fully funded, to 2013, when virtually every plan reported significant underfunding. The goal...

The brief’s key findings are: *A small, but significant, number of multiemployer pension plans face insolvency in the next 20 years – despite actions to reduce benefits and raise contributions. *To avoid insolvency, a Commission with representatives from plans, employers, and unions has...

Sous la direction de Marcelin Joanis et Luc Godbout Avec la collaboration de Laurence Allaire Jean, Jean-Pierre Aubry, Bryan Campbell, Jean-Claude Cloutier, Serge Coulombe, Jonathan Deslauriers, Pouya Ebrahimi, Kodjovi M. Eklou, Étienne Farvaque, Martial Foucault, Robert Gagné, Roger Galipeau,...