Publication: Asian Provident Funds: Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges
Loading...
Date
2021
ISSN
Published
2021
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
Across the emerging world, policymakers are grappling with how to build retirement systems that meet the needs of their rapidly developing and rapidly aging societies. Nowhere is the challenge more urgent than in Asia, which is both developing and aging more rapidly than anywhere else on earth. Provident funds, which are fully funded, government-managed, defined contribution systems, have long been the dominant form of retirement provision in much of Asia. The purpose of this report is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the provident fund model, evaluate the performance of three of Asia’s four largest provident funds, and identify steps that they and other provident funds can take to improve retirement security. The funds covered in the report are India’s Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Indonesia’s Jaminan Hari Tua (JHT), and Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund (EPF). The report identifies two key features of the provident fund model that may make it an attractive choice for both governments and workers in emerging markets.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Jackson, Richard; Inglis, Evan. 2021. Asian Provident Funds: Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges. Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Insight;. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35236 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Risk-based Supervision of Pension Funds : Emerging Practices and Challenges(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008)Risk-based supervision of pension funds grew out of a project that was jointly conducted by the World Bank and the International Organization of Pension Supervisors (IOPS). The project was initiated in response to the increasing interest in the development of innovative approaches to pension supervision from the member countries of both institutions. The volume provides an initial assessment of the development of risk-based supervision of pension funds in four countries that have been pioneering the development of risk-based supervision methods in various forms. The volume is comprised of a summary chapter and in-depth studies of the experience in four individual countries-Australia, Denmark, Mexico, and Netherlands. These four country studies were prepared by experts familiar with the systems in each of the countries. The studies have been edited by World Bank staff to ensure a consistent approach to the analysis of the various countries' systems. Models of risk-based supervision demonstrate the benefits of moving away from an approach based on strict compliance, specific rules, and quantitative controls toward an approach that puts more emphasis on the identification and management of relevant risks. A risk-based approach encourages supervised entities to place a greater focus on risk management in their daily operations, which promotes a stronger pension system and more effective outcomes for the members of the system. It is also expected that moving to a risk-based approach to supervision will enhance the ability of supervisors to focus resources on areas of highest risk, which will, over time, result in a more efficient use of supervisory resources.Publication Pension Risk and Risk Based Supervision in Defined Contribution Pension Funds(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-03-18)The main goal of any pension system is to ensure that members receive an adequate pension income when they retire. Whilst traditional defined benefit (DB) pension plans set out what that pension income will be in advance and then strive to deliver it, the growing number of defined contribution (DC) plans accumulates a sum of assets which can then be turned into a pension income on retirement. However, the amount of this retirement income is not set in advance. In the absence of a proper regulatory framework, feature n DC plans leads to a focus by not only pension providers, but also regulators and pension plan members themselves on the short-term accumulation of pension assets rather than the longer-term goal of securing an adequate retirement income. The paper is organized as follows: chapter two discusses the origins of risks based supervision and discusses the role of capital in the alignment of incentives in financial institutions. Chapter three discusses the concept of risk based supervision for pension funds, and its limitations in the case of DC pension schemes. Chapter four discusses the effectiveness of RBS schemes in DC systems in emerging economies, and the last section provides some lessons learned.Publication Proving Incentives for Long-Term Investment by Pension Funds : The Use of Outcome-based Benchmarks(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-05)A fundamental goal of any pension system is to ensure that members receive an adequate income when they retire. Although traditional defined benefit pension plans set out how pension income will be determined in advance and then strive to deliver this, the growing number of defined contribution plans accumulate a sum of assets which can then be turned into a pension income on retirement. However, the amount of this retirement income is not predefined This frequently leads to a focus by not only most pension providers, but also regulators and pension plan members themselves on the short-term accumulation of pension assets rather than the longer-term goal of securing an adequate retirement income. This paper discusses a possible solution to this challenge: the use of benchmarks to encourage pension funds to invest with the longer-term goal of delivering adequate retirement income in mind. Examples are provided of leading pension funds that already work with long-term, outcome-based benchmarks. The paper suggests a methodology for pension regulators to use in order to incentivize pension funds in their jurisdictions to adopt a similar approach.Publication Pension Risk and Risk-Based Supervision in Defined Contribution Pension Funds(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-03)Defined contribution pension systems have faced criticism in the wake of the financial and economic crisis for not delivering adequate and sustainable pension incomes at retirement. Much of the problem has centered around the misalignment of pension fund management companies and the interests of pension fund members, with the focus on short-term volatility rather than delivering adequate pension income over the long term. Although pension fund supervisors in emerging economies have attempted to correct for these market failures, they have not focused sufficiently on the ultimate long-term pension income objective. The paper suggests that in order to have a meaningful impact on future pensions, the supervision of defined contribution pension systems needs to take a more proactive role in minimizing pension risk. This objective would require ensuring that investment risks are aligned with the probability of achieving a target pension at retirement age. The paper also suggests that a proper institutional design of the pension fund industry and intensive use of market surveillance are efficient tools for dealing with most of the operational risks of funded pension fund schemes in emerging economies.Publication Women's Retirement Age in Vietnam : Gender Equality and Sustainability of the Social Security Fund(World Bank, 2009-01-01)The issue of the retirement age is fundamentally linked to policies on social protection. It is an issue that inevitably causes debate and has proponents, men and women, who argue on both sides. During preparation of the gender equality law in Vietnam, several options were presented for changing the retirement age of women. However, the National Assembly could not make a decision as the debate was rife with mostly emotional arguments. A more constructive dialogue could be pursued if presented with economic and social arguments of each option, or alternative options. During the labor code revision in 2009, this study will hopefully provide a good basis for decision making as well as for further policy dialogue on the issue. The main objective of this study is to provide economic and social arguments on different options for women's retirement age in Vietnam to serve as a basis for further consultation and policy dialogue with the Government.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication What’s at Play? Unpacking the Relationship between Teaching and Learning(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-21)Using unique nationally representative school and system survey data from 13 education systems in low and middle-income countries collected through the World Bank’s Global Education Policy Dashboard (GEPD), we examine how the pedagogical practices, including practices to foster student engagement and subject content knowledge of primary-school teachers, correlate with their students’ learning outcomes. The authors find that student performance on literacy (and, to a lesser extent, math) assessments are correlated with receiving instruction from teachers with better-measured pedagogical skills. While the better-pedagogy effect is modest for the entire sample, it is statistically robust and quite substantial for the upper-middle-income countries. Based on a sub-sample of those education systems, we also find that using learning strategies that support greater student engagement appears to be highly predictive of student learning outcomes in literacy. Better pedagogical practices correlate with teachers’ exposure to more practical, school-based pedagogical support, for example through induction or mentoring and feedback on lesson plans, and with better teacher evaluation at the school level. The findings confirm the important role of interventions providing direct pedagogical support and feedback to teachers through training, instructional leadership, and evaluation, and they highlight the potential for interventions to foster student engagement and improve learning outcomes.Publication Business Ready 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-03)Business Ready (B-READY) is a new World Bank Group corporate flagship report that evaluates the business and investment climate worldwide. It replaces and improves upon the Doing Business project. B-READY provides a comprehensive data set and description of the factors that strengthen the private sector, not only by advancing the interests of individual firms but also by elevating the interests of workers, consumers, potential new enterprises, and the natural environment. This 2024 report introduces a new analytical framework that benchmarks economies based on three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency. The analysis centers on 10 topics essential for private sector development that correspond to various stages of the life cycle of a firm. The report also offers insights into three cross-cutting themes that are relevant for modern economies: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender. B-READY draws on a robust data collection process that includes specially tailored expert questionnaires and firm-level surveys. The 2024 report, which covers 50 economies, serves as the first in a series that will expand in geographical coverage and refine its methodology over time, supporting reform advocacy, policy guidance, and further analysis and research.Publication World Bank Annual Report 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-25)This annual report, which covers the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, has been prepared by the Executive Directors of both the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA)—collectively known as the World Bank—in accordance with the respective bylaws of the two institutions. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, has submitted this report, together with the accompanying administrative budgets and audited financial statements, to the Board of Governors.Publication Global Economic Prospects, January 2025(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-16)Global growth is expected to hold steady at 2.7 percent in 2025-26. However, the global economy appears to be settling at a low growth rate that will be insufficient to foster sustained economic development—with the possibility of further headwinds from heightened policy uncertainty and adverse trade policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and climate-related natural disasters. Against this backdrop, emerging market and developing economies are set to enter the second quarter of the twenty-first century with per capita incomes on a trajectory that implies substantially slower catch-up toward advanced-economy living standards than they previously experienced. Without course corrections, most low-income countries are unlikely to graduate to middle-income status by the middle of the century. Policy action at both global and national levels is needed to foster a more favorable external environment, enhance macroeconomic stability, reduce structural constraints, address the effects of climate change, and thus accelerate long-term growth and development.Publication Global Economic Prospects, June 2025(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-10)The global economy is facing another substantial headwind, emanating largely from an increase in trade tensions and heightened global policy uncertainty. For emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), the ability to boost job creation and reduce extreme poverty has declined. Key downside risks include a further escalation of trade barriers and continued policy uncertainty. These challenges are exacerbated by subdued foreign direct investment into EMDEs. Global cooperation is needed to restore a more stable international trade environment and scale up support for vulnerable countries grappling with conflict, debt burdens, and climate change. Domestic policy action is also critical to contain inflation risks and strengthen fiscal resilience. To accelerate job creation and long-term growth, structural reforms must focus on raising institutional quality, attracting private investment, and strengthening human capital and labor markets. Countries in fragile and conflict situations face daunting development challenges that will require tailored domestic policy reforms and well-coordinated multilateral support.