It is shown that the net fiscal externality created by an additional member of a Pay-as-you-go-pension system that is endowed with individual accounts equals the gross contribution of this member. In Germany, this is an amount of about DM 175,000. The paper uses this information to design a...

Based on explicit present value calculations, the paper criticizes the view that the PAYGO system wastes economic resources. In present value terms, there is nothing to be gained from a transition to funded system even though the latter offers a permanently higher rate of return. The sum of the...