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The research investigates the application of asset allocation model to pension structure and mortgage payment. The defined contribution pension plan has become the main pension plan in Taiwan. In this pension plan, labors could adjust the contribution rate to maximize their utility function even if they change jobs. Thus, the pension plan may cause changes in their optimal asset allocation. In addition, due to the financial innovations of personalized debt instruments, lenders are allowed to adjust the mortgage payment to maximize personal utility function and hence the adjustable payment ratio could also change the lenders¡¦ optimal asset allocation. This study presents an extended intertemporal asset allocation model of Campbell(1993) and Viceira(2001) to investigate the effects of defined contribution pension and mortgage payment. The numeric simulation is also present to demonstrate the effects on labors¡¦ optimal asset allocation.

This thesis provides a range of analyses to examine the current Chinese pension reform in both provincial and national contexts, with special emphasis on coverage increase and its long term financial implications. Quantitative assessment includes econometric analysis of survey data initiated and organized by the author and her colleagues. Special models are designed to reflect the transitional characteristics of the current Chinese pension system. The results confirm that the coverage increase delays the system-aging process, through labor migration and urbanization, by about 20 years. But a funding crisis is inevitable if no parametric reforms could be made in the current system and if the system is not well managed. Policy suggestions are made in line with the empirical analysis and model results. In addition, some structural pension reform options are discussed. Two Notional Defined Contribution (NDC) applications are presented and simulations indicate that an NDC system may be effective in smoothing the financial pressure for government while maintaining adequate levels of individual retirement benefit. In the final part of the thesis, a hypothetical safety net is assessed in the context of the current policy framework, and its cost is examined. The thesis introduces new data and first hand information about Chinese pension reform in a provincial context to reflect the features of the national system.

The subject of this thesis is application of Notional Defined Contribution system in Czech Republic. In this pension system everybody has his own individual pension account on which he or she saves money. Interest is accredited to this account. When this person retires, the pension is calculated based on pension account balance. Contributions do not really stay in pension system, but they are paid to current pensioners (resemblance to PAYG system). In first chapter I deal with pension systems in general, in second chapter I deal with theoretical NDC system. In third chapter I analyze practical application of NDC system in Sweden. Fourth part of this thesis analyses the possibility of introducing NDC pension system in Czech republic.

My diploma thesis deals with the introduction and analysis of the NDC system (Notional Defined Contribution). I devote myself to pension system in the Czech Republic too. The diploma thesis provides informations on individual elements of the NDC system and its financial sustainability. In the theoretical part I deal with the pension systems in general and with states that have already introduced the NDC system. In the practical part I deal with the pension system of the Czech Republic in according to the questionnaire. I try to evaluate whether the NDC system is advantageous for the Czech Republic.

<p>I analyze a large number of investment decisions based on theories that have been developed and formalized over the past 50 years. Previous work in this field unveils a number of biases which affect ones choices when the outcome is uncertain. In my thesis I find evidence of these already known biases and focus on finding rational explanations for their existence. I also introduce two unexplored biases; the homeboy bias and the menu bias.</p><p>The results clearly indicate that sophisticated investors are generally less subject to these biases. Since pension schemes in many nations are shifting towards defined contribution schemes, investment decisions and risk preferences will be of great consequence to investors’ personal economy and ability to consume, affecting the economy in general. It is therefore of great importance that policy makers do all that they can to increase investors sophistication and create a playing field which facilitates economically sound investing.</p>

I analyze a large number of investment decisions based on theories that have been developed and formalized over the past 50 years. Previous work in this field unveils a number of biases which affect ones choices when the outcome is uncertain. In my thesis I find evidence of these already known biases and focus on finding rational explanations for their existence. I also introduce two unexplored biases; the homeboy bias and the menu bias. The results clearly indicate that sophisticated investors are generally less subject to these biases. Since pension schemes in many nations are shifting towards defined contribution schemes, investment decisions and risk preferences will be of great consequence to investors’ personal economy and ability to consume, affecting the economy in general. It is therefore of great importance that policy makers do all that they can to increase investors sophistication and create a playing field which facilitates economically sound investing.

This paper seeks to examine the failures of the current retirement plan structure, focusing on the structure’s reliance on unpredictable future market returns and the unwillingness of the parties involved to negotiate in order to further enhance their own self-centered interests. Currently, both defined contribution and defined benefit plans encounter a funding crisis in both the public and the private sectors. This paper will discuss how retirement plans, by nature, rely on assumptions of market returns, which naturally depend on the volatility of the market and increase the risk and uncertainty in retirement plans. In addition, since defined benefit plans mostly exist in the public sector today, this paper will examine defined benefit plans in relation to the public sector’s funding crisis and hope to shed light on the politics and tensions between the parties involved in public retirement plans that are preventing effectiveness and efficiency. Finally, this paper will also present alternative retirement plan strategies for which academics and scholars have advocated. However, at the end of the day, as opposed to relying on others to dictate one’s future benefits, which are based on the goodwill of others and uncertainty in the market, Americans should recognize their lack of savings and improve their personal financial literacy and develop individualized savings plans.

There are two labor insurance pension systems running in Taiwan at this moment in time; the labor insurance pension runs by the government, and the labor standards law pension system both old and new systems are the responsibility of the private companies. The labor insurance pension was introduced in 1950. Through the years due to the population ageing; people are living longer and having fewer children, the rapid changes of economy and etc. the original lump sum pension is no longer enough to sustain a standard of living for the worker-retirees. Moreover, the rate of the labor turnover is high for the reason that the majority of Taiwanese private companies are small to medium enterprises with the average life expectancy of around 13 years only. Therefore most of the workers who work for the private companies are not qualified to claim pensions after their retirements although they are covered by the labor standards law pension scheme. The pension provision intends to prevent poverty in old age but under this circumstance those retirees are not having their financial security in the old age and are creating social issues. To reinstate this issue, the labor insurance pension system has carried out by the government in January 2009, after a major update of the labor standards law pension system in July 2005, the method of repayment has changed from the defined benefit plan to the defined contribution plan in addition to allowing the qualifying years carry forward to the new employers when the workers change jobs. Furthermore, the pension repayment is revolutionized from a single lump sum payment to an individual retirement account system complemented by monthly repayments. All of these changes are to secure the worker-retirees financially in their old age. The objectives of this study disclose the transformations of the labor retirement insurance pension systems in Taiwan and the existing modification of the Labor Insurance Act, the benefits of the Labor Standards Act pension system along with the revised Labor Pension Act. A few important factors below have been concluded in this study after analysed the revise of pension benefits systems: First of all, the repayment has changed from a single lump sum payment to monthly repayments. Secondly, the method of repayment has changed from the defined benefit plan to the defined contribution plan. Finally is to determine who are safeguarded? The protection of the social insurance is not only for the small specific groups of people but the majority of individuals. As a result, nowadays the labor pension benefits systems in Taiwan have achieved the task of securing a standard living for the retired workers. The concept of this study is to learn the affect of the changing of the economic climate and increased life expectancy on the possible forthcoming pension¡¦s crisis followed by constructive proposals to anticipate the existing labor insurance pension systems meet the needs of the worker-retirees and achieve the objectives of sustainable management of the pension systems and maintain a secured society in Taiwan.

From the implementation of National Health Insurance on March 1, 1995 in Taiwan, the public has obtained it¡¦s benefit, and it¡¦s really a blessing for Taiwanese. Following the implementation of National Health Insurance Policy, the public began having demands for National Pension due to the aging of society from 1993. As a result the authorities including the Ministry of the Interior which is in charge of National Pension, the Council of Agriculture which plans Farmer Pension, and the Council of Labor Affairs which proposes reforming Labor Pension Payment all show their attitude to take charge then positively frame each kind of pension systems. In fact, the coming of National Pension which is a blessing for the public could be the shackles to future generations. Blessing or shackles, it all depends on whether the formation of National Pension is for the public¡¦s benefit or only for the political intention. Is it for the people¡¦s lifetime protection and peaceful old age or only to make good the commitment made during the campaign? Is it a long-term, integral and foresighted consideration about people¡¦s demand or merely a short-term, sectional and realistic payback? With the basis of economic development to measure the long-term burdens and take improving financial affairs as an important condition, or, there is only one-year budget thus the local government have to raise funds and rely on central government subsidies? National Pension and National Health Insurance are both the nation¡¦s social security business, in order to benefit the public and not to recommit the same error of the current insurance systems, the authorities and other related groups should find out people¡¦s true demands and consider whether the people could afford the insurance premium but also take advantage of other countries¡¦ experience as consultation. This article is to probe into the achievement of National Pension implementation in Japan¡Xan orient country which has similar cultural background and family social formations with Taiwan.¡Xand to understand the background, current status, and the achievement of the implementation then take their strong points as an example to us. The Taiwan government planned to carry out National Pension in 2000, which is a significant social welfare policy after the implementation of National Health Insurance; unfortunately it doesn¡¦t come into effect even to this day due to the political rivalries and the substitution of political party. National Pension is a kind of compulsory savings scheme; it¡¦s a kind of insurance program and also a project of wealth redistribution. Furthermore, National Pension can be taken as the rearrangement of economic resources to regulate individual¡¦s wealth and income in the society, the arrangement of pension system would influence the management of whole economic system. The performance of pension has its dual purpose, the positive is to undertake the horizontal integration to have a healthy aged pension system; the passive is to grasp the opportunity to keep political power and electoral factors from causing the allowance or welfare systems become disordered. Lastly, to compare the main difference of pension implementation and the feasibility analysis after performance between Taiwan and Japan. Whether the pension can be put into practice or not depends on if we can achieve the most effective resources allocation of social resources, then we can see the economic benefits of pension system.