Sunday, February 18, 2007


Chinese New Year Ushers in Pension Reform



February 18, 2007 marks the Chinese New Year (the Year of the Boar). Also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, it is the "most important of the traditional Chinese holidays." Interestingly, Chinese New Year's Eve is known as the eve of change and indeed, China is on the verge of significant change.

According to a new study, co-authored by Reuters and KMPG, the demographics are compelling. "By 2050 the number of people aged 60 or over is expected to rise to more than 430 million, or 31 percent of the population, from just 147.8 million, or 11 percent today. This would put it well above the projected world average. More worryingly, the percentage of China’s population that is working is expected to peak in 2010, with the ratio of workers to retirees declining from six to one in 2000 to two to one by 2040." Click here for a copy of the study.

"The heavenly mandate: Winning a piece of China’s pensions market" describes a 401(k) look-alike known as enterprise annuities. Fixed fees and a local investment requirement are two notable features. Asset allocation constraints are another. Equity investments are limited to no more than 30 percent of assets under management, 20 percent in money market instruments, and up to one half to be invested in fixed-income securities "but at least 20 percent must be kept in government bonds."

Asset allocation is touted by many experts as THE most important of all investment decisions, leading one to ponder. Will an arguably "conservative" mix require yet additional change? People can't pay bills with rates of returns and depend instead on having sufficient cash on hand. What happens if (when) people come up short?

From the "glass is half full" camp, reform comes none too soon. As an anonymous Chinese sage suggests: "Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still."

Labels: ,

posted by Susan Mangiero at 2/18/2007 08:24:00 PM