Individual pension accounts are growing in importance as a pillar of retirement incomes policy in the developed world. Policy-makers have generally assumed that by introducing pre-funded pension schemes, they can increase household wealth and thereby raise retirement incomes. However, there has been relatively little empirical work to confirm this. This paper uses microeconomic data from...

This report provides background on the regulation of the superannuation industry and describes industry trends that have resulted in total superannuation savings in Australia exceeding the $1 trillion mark.

The change enacted by the government during the course of the 2006–07 financial year constitutes the largest overhaul of Australia's retirement saving system since the advent of the compulsory superannuation system in the late 80 and early 90s. This paper surveys the changes. While much of the superannuation system has remained unaltered by these changes...

The adequacy of Australia’s superannuation savings is a topic of ongoing concern. The common perception is that Australians, in general, have not saved enough for their retirement and that the current level of compulsory superannuation guarantee contributions made by employers on behalf of employees will produce an inadequate level of benefits for current and future...

The overall aim of the Australian retirement income system is to reduce poverty in retirement and produce a higher income in retirement than can be achieved by reliance on the age pension alone. Recently, a third goal has begun to emerge, that of prolonging a person’s workforce attachment. The success of the retirement income system...