This thesis present an analysis of pension systems in the Czech Republic and the United States of America, according to the status in 2013. The aim is to make comparison of pension schemes based on defined criteria, that are budgetary responsibility, the quality of life for the elderly, social justice, social solidarity, equivalence and financial sustainability of the pension system. Another objective is to compare each pillar of the pension systems and analyze the different elements of the benefits that are provided from mentioned pillars. Theoretical basis include the Welfare State theory, the theory of public finance and the theory of market, state and civic sector and the criterion anchoring of the reform. The research is devoted to the analysis of pension systems ability to provide an adequate income in retirement, what is the real purchasing power of pensioners, whether the pension systems are due to unfavorable demographic development in the future financially sustainable and how the pension system encourages older workers to remain in the labor market.

In this magister thesis I will critically analyse the possibility to transfer one’s premium pension rights to one’s spouse or registered partner using Carol Bacchi’s WPR approach. After a short presentation of the Swedish pension system, I will use delve deeper into the policy and discuss what it acknowledges, silences, and contributes to. Several suggestions of improvement are discussed, but there are no obvious solutions to be found. The policy can be questioned from a gender perspective and the conclusion is that it would be wise to take a step back and reflect on the policy before expanding it.

In der Bundesrepublik hat sich die Überzeugung durchgesetzt, angesichts des bevorstehenden demographischen Wandels sei eine Stärkung kapitalgedeckter Elemente in der Altersvorsorge notwendig. Die Riestersche Rentenreform des Jahres 2001 stellt einen Schritt in diese Richtung dar. Zunächst wird dargelegt, dass die demographisch induzierten Schwierigkeiten der gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung (GRV) wahrscheinlich ebenso überschätzt werden wie das Problemlösungspotential einer verstärkten privaten Vorsorge. Daher wird anschließend untersucht, wie sich die Gewissheit von der Notwendigkeit kapitalgedeckter Vorsorge politisch durchsetzen konnte. Hierbei wird auf theoretische Ansätze einer Wissenssoziologie der Politik zurückgegriffen. Anhand ausgewählter rentenpolitischer Bundestagsdebatten der Jahre 1957 bis 2001 werden die Deutungen politischer Akteure hinsichtlich der Probleme der GRV, der Problemlösungen und der dabei vorgesehenen Rolle kapitalgedeckter Elemente untersucht. Gezeigt werden soll, dass die Rentenreform 2001 nicht einfach auf Grund demographischer oder ökonomischer Zwänge verstanden werden kann. Entscheidend sind vielmehr die politischen Deutungen solcher Sachverhalte und deren langfristiger Wandel. Erst aus der Verknüpfung von spezifischen Deutungen der langfristigen demographischen Entwicklung, der kurzfristigen Wirkung der Lohnnebenkosten auf die Arbeitslosigkeit und der Funktionsgrundlagen der GRV ergibt sich im politischen Prozess die „Notwendigkeit“ einer zusätzlichen privaten kapitalgedeckten Altersvorsorge.

The Master Thesis focuses on the description of two selected European pension systems, comparing primarily the structure and funding of Czech and Swiss pension models, the performance of pension funds and the conditions under which senior citizens are entitled to old age pension. The Thesis also arouses the question wheather the steps to reform the Czech pension system could be inspired by a foreign system and wheather the Swiss model would set a suitable example.

Hardly anyone doubt about the necessity of pension reform nowadays. Opinions how to process the reform differs considerably. The main point of my work is to evaluate preferability of so called opt-out (partial release of financial sources from system based on continuous contribution into fund system) for various income and age groups in order to find out that such measures will not fundamentally threaten stability of pension system in the Czech Republic. Reform changes of pension reform of chosen EU countries are to be characterized in my thesis. I will also evaluate possibilities of aplication of foreign experience in the Czech Republic. The basic methods will be above all the analysis of questionnaire results, mathematical and statistical methods and method of international comparation.

Thesis (LLM. (Labour Law)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / This study will analyse section 37D of the Pension Funds Act, 24 of 1956. The analysis will also give insight to pension benefits, and how they are afforded special protection by the legislature. Section 37A (1) prohibits the reduction, transfer, cession, pledge or hypothecation of pension benefits. In terms of the Act if a member becomes insolvent, pension benefits are deemed not to form part of the insolvent estate and are thereby protected from erosion by creditors. Section 37C of the Act deems pension benefits payable on the death of a member, subject to certain exceptions, not to form part of the assets of the estate of the deceased member. Section 19 of the Act also serves to protect pension benefits by restricting the manner in which a fund’s assets may be invested.

Thesis (LLM> (Labour Law)) -- University og Limpopo, 2013 / The South African government has paid compensation in a form of special pension to individuals who have been exposed to certain types of hardship and suffering caused by the governments or their predecessors. This compensation is described as ‘the appreciation or sense of guilty of society towards those people on whom the government has rightfully or wrongfully and at any rate disproportionally inflicted damage’. Government have been prepared to pay compensation to the following persons: former enemies, victims of war, victims of harmful compulsory vaccination measures, persons who had sacrificed their jobs and education in the process of overturning oppressive governments establishing democratic government; and persons whose basic human rights had been violated by governments or their predecessors. These persons have sacrificed their lives either in exile or within South Africa fighting for South Africa to be democratic. These persons must prove that they served their respective political organisations for a period of five years or above or they were banished or restricted in certain area or imprisoned or sentenced.

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka huruvida en aktiv individ får högre framtida pensionsutbetalningar än en individ som låter kapitalet vara kvar i Premiesparfonden.</p><p>Vår undersökning har en<strong> </strong>deduktiv ansats, då ekonomiska teorier har utgjort grunden för de beräkningar som har gjorts. Beräkningarna bygger på hårddata, i form av historiska fondvärden, och studien är därmed kvantitativ. Tidigare undersökningar och beräkningar används för att styrka uppsatsen, som i och med detta är en sekundäranalys.  </p><p>Den placeringsstrategi som<strong> </strong>visade sig ge högst framtida utbetalningar med hänsyn tagen till risken var den aktiva placeringen. De portföljer som de aktiva premiepensionstagarna har att välja mellan i vår studie, ger alla högre framtida utbetalningar än Premiesparfonden. Vidare kan tilläggas att Premiesparfonden är ett av alternativen som har för hög risk i förhållande till dess låga avkastning.</p><p>Det skulle vara intressant att om några år, då Premiespar-fonden har förändrats till generationsfonder, göra om denna studie och då undersöka om detta leder till högre pensionsutbetalningar för de icke-aktiva premiepensionstagarna.</p><p>Denna studie bidrar med och stärker, genom konkreta exempel, det som en del andra författare redan påpekat, att de icke- aktiva premiepensionsspararna får lägre framtida utbetalningar än de som är aktiva i sitt sparande.<strong></strong></p> / <p>The aim of this thesis is to compare if being an active premium pension saver give rise to higher future payments, than keeping the capital in the Premium Savings Fund.</p><p>This essay has a deductive approach, as we started to study financial theories. It also has a quantitative research, since our calculations are called statistical data, which are composed of these financial theories. Previous studies and calculations are used to prove our essay.</p><p>The best investment strategy with the highest future payments, regarding risk preferences, turned out to be the active choice. All the choices an active premium pension saver can make by choose one of our different portfolios, has proved higher future payments, than The Premium Pension Fund. Further, the Premium Savings Fund is one of alternatives which have a lower return, regarding to the high level of risk.</p><p>It would be interesting to remake this study, when the new funds "generationsfonderna" has been introduced, and to see if this alternative leads to higher future payments.</p><p>This study<strong> </strong>contributes, through substantial examples, what some other writers already have done. A non-active premium pension saver gets lower future payments then the active savers.</p>

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka huruvida en aktiv individ får högre framtida pensionsutbetalningar än en individ som låter kapitalet vara kvar i Premiesparfonden. Vår undersökning har en deduktiv ansats, då ekonomiska teorier har utgjort grunden för de beräkningar som har gjorts. Beräkningarna bygger på hårddata, i form av historiska fondvärden, och studien är därmed kvantitativ. Tidigare undersökningar och beräkningar används för att styrka uppsatsen, som i och med detta är en sekundäranalys.   Den placeringsstrategi som visade sig ge högst framtida utbetalningar med hänsyn tagen till risken var den aktiva placeringen. De portföljer som de aktiva premiepensionstagarna har att välja mellan i vår studie, ger alla högre framtida utbetalningar än Premiesparfonden. Vidare kan tilläggas att Premiesparfonden är ett av alternativen som har för hög risk i förhållande till dess låga avkastning. Det skulle vara intressant att om några år, då Premiespar-fonden har förändrats till generationsfonder, göra om denna studie och då undersöka om detta leder till högre pensionsutbetalningar för de icke-aktiva premiepensionstagarna. Denna studie bidrar med och stärker, genom konkreta exempel, det som en del andra författare redan påpekat, att de icke- aktiva premiepensionsspararna får lägre framtida utbetalningar än de som är aktiva i sitt sparande. / The aim of this thesis is to compare if being an active premium pension saver give rise to higher future payments, than keeping the capital in the Premium Savings Fund. This essay has a deductive approach, as we started to study financial theories. It also has a quantitative research, since our calculations are called statistical data, which are composed of these financial theories. Previous studies and calculations are used to prove our essay. The best investment strategy with the highest future payments, regarding risk preferences, turned out to be the active choice. All the choices an active premium pension saver can make by choose one of our different portfolios, has proved higher future payments, than The Premium Pension Fund. Further, the Premium Savings Fund is one of alternatives which have a lower return, regarding to the high level of risk. It would be interesting to remake this study, when the new funds "generationsfonderna" has been introduced, and to see if this alternative leads to higher future payments. This study contributes, through substantial examples, what some other writers already have done. A non-active premium pension saver gets lower future payments then the active savers.

The theme of my thesis is the analysis of the factors influencing the market of pension funds in the Czech Republic. The aim of this work is to analyze the factors affecting the pension market in the last ten years. The theoretical part is focused on the overview of a given issue, the definition of legislative terms and basic concepts. There is described the basic characteristics of the pension funds and the legal framework. A separate chapter is devoted to the management of pension funds and state supervision of pension funds. There is also an overview of the development of the pension fund in the Czech Republic and other terms associated with it. In the practical part there is monitored an impact of individual factors (the gross domestic product, unemployment, inflation and wage developments) on indicators of the pension market, with evaluation by using regression and correlation analysis. The aim is to determine whether there is a relationship of macroeconomic variables on the characteristics of the pension market, or how to tight the binding between them. In the second part of the practical work was monitored the performance of each pension fund.