Rich or Poor in Retirement? A Small Area Analysis of Australian Private Superannuation Savings in 2006 Using Spatial Microsimulation

V<sc>idyattama</sc> Y., C<sc>assells</sc> R., H<sc>arding</sc> A. and M<sc>c</sc>N<sc>amara</sc> J. Rich or poor in retirement? A small area analysis of Australian private superannuation savings in 2006 using spatial microsimulation, <italic>Regional Studies</italic>. Substantial differences in retirement savings exist among Australians. Little is known, however, about how these patterns play out at a small area level, partly due to an absence of available data about wealth holdings at a small area level. This paper uses spatial microsimulation techniques to produce estimates of superannuation savings for Australian men and women who in 2006 were aged between forty-five and sixty years at a Statistical Local Area (SLA) level. The findings show substantial differences between Australia's small areas in terms of both superannuation ownership and median balances.