Study on Improving the Early Retirement Pension and the Deferred Pension System: Focused on the Rate of Reduction and the Rate of Increment

Abstract

This study aims at contributing to improving the early retirement pension and the deferred pension concerning the level and application of the rate of reduction and the rate of increment. This study analysed firstly reforms of the benefit reduction and increase according to retirement timing in pension systems of OECD countries. In comparison to other countries, the National Pension Scheme in Korea is characterized by the loose conditions for the early retirement and the strict conditions for referring pension provision. As next, this study calculated the actuarially neutral reduction rate and increment rate of the National Pension Scheme. According to calculation the actuarially neutral reduction rate lies between 5.9~6.5% and the actuarially neutral increment rate between 6.1% and 6.5%. It shows, that the current reduction rate in NPS is almost close to actuarially neural rate, but the increment rate is slightly lower than the level of the actuarially neutral rate. On the basis of this analysis, this study suggests, that the method of the application of the reduction rate should be flexiblized in the early retirement pension. In the deferred pension, it is desired that the increment rate should be increased to 7.2%, considering the policy goal of the promoting work incentive. With this proposed policy improvement, it is expected to strengthen work incentive and old age income security on the affordable additional financial burden.