The Sustainability of PAYG Pension Schemes: A Comparative Analysis (1993–2023)

Abstract

The most common policy response to pension account deficit appears to be increasing age of retirement. Many countries with PAYG pension schemes have been experiencing this bitter reality. This paper brings to evidence some parameters of PAYG pension schemes neglected in short political cycles, but important from the long-term perspectives. We use data from the Czech Republic and Germany, two economies close geographically and by population structure, yet different in pension schemes tradition and economic development. By a comparative analysis we show in detailed parameters that a balanced family policy combined with macroeconomic policies may allow keeping retirement age fixed in a sustainable PAYG pension scheme.