On the Heterogeneity in Longevity Among Socioeconomic Groups: Scope, Trends, and Implications for Earnings-Related Pension Schemes

Abstract

Heterogeneity in longevity between socioeconomic groups is increasingly documented for developed economies and is reviewed in the paper. Heterogeneity in life expectancy disaggregated by main socioeconomic characteristics A¢â‚¬â€œ such as age, gender, race, health, education, profession, income, and wealth A¢â‚¬â€œ is sizable and has not declined in recent decades. The prospects for future decline are not strong, either; perhaps even to the contrary. As heterogeneity is closely linked to income or earnings (i.e., the contribution base of earnings-related retirement income programs such as social security benefits and private sector life annuities) and as heterogeneity is empirically sizable, the result is major implicit taxes for some groups A¢â‚¬â€œparticularly the less educated and low earners A¢â‚¬â€œand major subsidies for other groups A¢â‚¬â€œ particularly highly educated individuals and high-income earners. The implications for retirement income reform and scheme design are substantial as taxes/subsidies counteract the envisaged effects of (i) a closer contribution-benefit link, (ii) a later formalretirement age to address population aging, and (iii) more individual funding and private annuities to compensate forreduced public generosity.