In recent years European employers, unions and governments have developed initiatives that offer employees the right to exchange certain items within an agreed package of employment conditions. So far, the available evidence on the use of such 'cafeteria systems' is largely based on survey data...

Dutch savings schemes are a case in point. In 1994, Dutch employees got the opportunity to save tax free to build up financial assets in the voluntary Salary Savings Scheme (SSS). From 2006, they could also choose to save in the innovative Life Course Savings Scheme that offered them the...