In a perfectly competitive market for annuities with full information, the price of annuities is equal to individuals' (discounted) survival probabilities. That is, prices are actuarially fair. In contrast, the pricing implicit in social security systems invariably allows for cross subsidization...

When information on longevity (survival functions) is unknown early in life, individuals have an interest to insure themselves against future quot;risk-classquot; classification. Accordingly, the First-Best typically involves transfers across states of nature. Competitive equilibrium cannot...

This paper describes the crisis of Romania's pension system , and analyses the reforms the government elected in 1996 is undertaking to resolve this crisis. Insolvency was principally due to demoralization of the system in the period following the collapse of Communism. Governments from 1990 to...