1. The German Pension System
By Christoph Wenzinger, Tom Surgeon, Rebecca Hale, Pierre-Emmanuel Leng and Lizzie Simpson

2. Pension System: History
1889: Invalidity and old-age insurance (Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung, GRV)
1.7% of wage, paid equally by employer and employee
1957: First big pension reform
Transition from „Kapitaldeckungsverfahren“ to „Umlageverfahren“
„Kapitaldeckungsverfahren“: Contributions are accumulated  individual assets. Insurance payments are financed by contributions and interest on capital.
“Umlageverfahren”: Contributions are not saved, but spent immediately on financing actual pensions. (Generationenvertrag / contract between generations)
Key feature of the reform: adjustment of pensions to the general development of income (dynamische Rente / dynamic pension)

3. Pension System: History II
1992: lowering of pension payments
2001: Introduction of the “Riester-Rente” (Walter Riester, SPD) (Amendment of the „Altersvermögensgesetz“ on 11 May 2001)
In addition to the “Gesetzliche Rentenversicherung (GRV)” that works according to the “Umlageverfahren”
Works according to the “Kapitaldeckungsverfahren”
Private retirement pension system, financial support from the state, voluntary

4. What is a Pension?
‘A regular payment that is intended to allow the saver to subsist without working at a later point in his or her life.’

5. Comparison between German and English pension system
In England there are four common pension schemes
1)Personal pension
2)Stakeholder pension
3)Company occupational pension
4)Basic state pension (BSP)

6. Germany In Germany there is a Pay As You Go public pension system
Size of pension fund is derived from*
*sum of accumulated earning points
*the adjustment factor
*type of pension and its value

7. Statistics to show differences in pensions for men and women
Under Schroeder’s government
Average man’s pension = €1015
Average woman’s pension = €508
(in Western Germany)

8. Merkel’s Pension Reform
Induced by fewer workers having to support more retired people.
People are living longer and birth rates are in decline
40% people between years of age are still working-very low percentage!

9. Action Taken Aim to raise pension age from 65 to 67
Encourage employers to offer defined contribution schemes.
Ultimately hope to decrease the cost of the pension bill in an ‘economically struggling Germany.’

10. Schröders Government; How pensions affected the people
Schröder's government is credited with implementing Agenda 2010; this agenda included the following;
cuts in the social welfare system (national health insurance, unemployment payments, pensions),
lowering taxes
reforming regulations on employment and payment
Consequences
After 2002; SPD lost support due to the ‘third way’ combining the ordoliberal "social market" with neo-liberalism.
It was considered by many people to be dismantling of the German welfare state!!
High unemployment rate still remained a problem for Germany

11. Under Merkels Government…
Appointment of Merkel; ‘the public was eager for the government to get to work after six months of political turmoil.’
more pro-American outlook- similar pension system as Germany
AIMS
One measure taken; raising the top income tax rate
increasing a value-added tax from 16 to 19 per cent.
VAT increase is being put off till 2007
One problem; High labour costs
Economic investments e.g. increased parental leave benefits and research spending
Rise in retirement age to 67 and decrease in pensions
Perusal of ‘trusting relations’ with United states

12. And for the part-time workers?

13. In the EU Part time employment = 18.5% of total employment in Europe
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Germany = highest levels of part-time working
More than 2/3 chose a part-time work

14. A good opportunity for old people
1984: Trading banking and Insurance Trade Union (Gewerkschaft Handel, Banken und Versicherungen, HBV)
Part-timers must not be excluded from pension
2000: 4th Euro Introduction Act (Euro–Einführungsgesetz)
block model with part-time working in old age

15. A good opportunity for old people (contd.)
2003 Third and Fourth Acts for Modern Services on the Labour Market:
People can work older with part-time jobs as on 1 July 2004
2004 Old-age Pensions Insurance Sustainability Act:
Increase of the age limit to 63 between 2006 and 2008

17. But not only for old people
A lot of mothers are employed part-time due to care of children
Does not lead to unreasonable losses of pension entitlements
Conditions:
Child is 10 years old maximum
Where nursing care is provided
Special cases if more than 2 children
If employee earns less than 155€

18. The Economy and Pensions
German Population getting older- but only work until 65- government stops receiving taxes and contributions
2050: Worker: Pensioner ratio 2:1, today 5:4
Schroeder: Agenda 2010: reform pension system
Need to discourage early retirement:
50+ initiative

19. The Economy cont… 2003- State pension deficit of €2.8billion
Increase contributions rather than reduce benefits
2030- German market for private and occupational pensions- 5 times that of today- €5trillion
Unemployment % %
Annual Growth -0.1%
Predicated to be below 1% next year
2003- €10billion shortfall in pension insurance system

20. Merkel Has Arrived… In order to deal with economic and pension crisis…
Raise interest rates
Increase VAT to 19% over next 2 years
Reduce level of unemployment
Increase age of retirement to 67 (discourage early retirement)
Create employment for over 50’s
Increase contributions
Encourage private pensions

21. The Economy cont…
If these reforms not enforced, pensions set to account for 18% of GDP in near future
European level, Germany state pays relatively high amount into pension system
Predicted to rise by another 3%

22. CONCLUSION…
Current PAYG system needs to be reformed otherwise the state will not be able to fund it
Need more uniformed system
Arrival of the new Chancellor- Angela Merkel gives rise to new hope for a swift and affective pension reform