OECD Economic Surveys: United Kingdom 2005
This 2005 survey of the United Kingdom's economy examines the key challenges for translating resilient economic performance into faster growth in living standards. In particular, it looks at housing supply, public services and infrastructure, pensions, childcare, the disability system, and raising skills. The special chapter covers raising innovation performance.
Also available in: French
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Pensions
Options for Reform
Unlike the situation in many OECD countries, future fiscal costs from public pension provision are not projected to rise significantly as the population ages. Instead concerns focus on the declining average public pension relative to the income of those in work and the projected increase in the extent of means-testing. With the level of private pension provision also declining this has also led to concerns that many are not saving enough for retirement. Reforms should focus on reducing the complexity of the pension system and reducing reliance of means-testing. The fiscal costs of such reforms could be partly met by raising the state pension age in line with increasing life expectancy and focussing tax relief for pension contributions on low- and middle-income earners.
Also available in: French
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Click to download PDF - 370.64KBPDF