Accounting for pensions, methodology for delineation and measurement of pension entitlements

1. Accounting for pensions, methodology for delineation and measurement of pension entitlements 9th Meeting of the AEG Washington, 8-10 September 2014 Eurostat C1

2. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice • Comparability of pension entitlements • Discount rate; • Promotions and wage increases • European approach-guidance provided in ESA 2010 and technical compilation guide for unfunded government schemes • US approach-technical transformation of entitlement data

3. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice • Comparability of pension entitlements • Transformation of entitlement data • "… to convert published normal cost of a state and local DB plan that uses the entry age method [a PBO method; remark J.Grütz] and an 8.0 percent discount rate to our ABO, 5.5 percent standard, we would multiply it by 2.2" • " since the retired member liability is the same for all actuarial methods it needs only discount rate adjustment" Reinsdorf, Lenze, Rassier (2014)

4. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice • Should national accountants, if possible, adjust actuarial data, calculated according to the accounting standards, in order to arrive at more comparable results? • Should the SNA provide more detailed guidance on the conceptually preferred assumptions for the calculation of pension entitlements and related flows?

5. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice – discount rate • What is considered the conceptually most appropriate starting point for the discount rate ? In this respect, should the long-term character of the pensions lead to stable assumptions regarding the discount rate? • Does the grade of integration of international financial markets justify the recommendation of a (global) risk free discount rate of e.g. 3%; in real terms? • Should these assumptions be reviewed only when usual revisions of national accounts are undertaken; e.g. every five years?

6. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice – ABO vs. PBO • What is considered the conceptually most appropriate approach: ABO or PBO? What would be the main criteria for the application of the ABO or PBO approach? • Does the AEG recommend applying one and the same approach to all pension schemes, or to apply at least one and the same approach to all schemes managed by government?

7. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice – life expectancy /scope • What are the kind of details on demographic developments that should be taken into accounts? • Should harmonised population projections, prepared and regularly updated by international organisations, preferably be used for government and social security pension schemes? • Does the AEG agree that, for example, survivor pensions are to be included in the calculation of pension entitlements?

8. Main issues related to the measurement of pension entitlements in practice – metadata • Does the AEG support the idea that national statistical offices are requested to compile a 'pensions fact sheet' providing basic information regarding coverage, scheme rules and major actuarial assumptions? • Does the AEG recommend to include into the fact sheet, if possible, a sensitivity analysis regarding the main actuarial assumptions? Thank you for your kind attention