We exploit an exogenous, universal increase in discount rates mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress Act (MAP-21) to identify the impact of pension overhang on investment. We find that firms with large unfunded pension liabilities increase investment by 13% after the MAP-21 induced decrease...

This study analyzes the ‘real' effects of accounting standards in the context of defined benefit pension plans. Specifically, we examine IAS 19R, which increases expected pension-induced equity volatility by eliminating the so-called ‘corridor method', a smoothing device for actuarial gains...

Using recovery plan data of 213 underfunded Dutch pension funds for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, discrete choice models are estimated describing pension funds' choices between three recovery measures: higher contributions, no indexation, and pension cuts. The estimation results suggest,...

In a defined contribution pension system, one of the main risks faced by members refers to the investment of funds. In this context, we discuss which is the most suitable risk measurement for the affiliates to the pension system. Different life-cycle investment strategies are evaluated under...

We exploit pension funding relief enacted in 2012 to estimate the effects of a positive shock to internal liquidity on market prices and investment. Measuring unexpected increases in internal liquidity using a priori expected pension contributions disclosed under FAS132R, we report positive...

Spanish Abstract: Teniendo en consideración el ciclo de altas volatilidades que se generó a partir de la crisis financiera del año 2008, se analiza el desempeño de los Fondos de Pensiones Chilenos a través de los índices de Jensen, Sharpe y Treynor. La comparación se hace en base mensual...

The fees and charges imposed upon pension funds are of great interest and importance to pension supervisory authorities as they have a significant impact on the amount of retirement income delivered to individuals, particular in the case of defined contribution (DC) pension schemes. Yet...

We study the impact of freezing defined benefit (DB) pension plans and replacing them with defined contribution (DC) plans on liquidity, financial leverage, investment, and market value of a sample of firms over 2001-2008. We find evidence that the pension freeze tends to attenuate the drain on...

We investigate how defined benefit pension schemes of FTSE firms are valued by the equity market, focusing on how future liabilities are discounted (since UK data allows us to estimate the duration of pension liabilities fairly accurately). We find that equity market valuation is consistent with...