The Australian Treasurer today released an updated "Intergenerational Report", five years after the first report made official the looming demographic disaster facing government finances as the aging Baby Boomer generation reached retirement age, stopped paying taxes and starting drawing on the aged pension. The most interesting aspect from my point of view was the radical change in the projected situation in 40 years time (which is based on expected trends in life expectancy, fertility rates, retirement ages and workforce participation) compared to the previous report. Instead of a projected 50 Billion dollars a year (5% of GDP) budget deficit in 40 years time, the latest projection is for a more modest $35 Billion dollar a year shortfall - a reduction of 40%. This decrease was largely due to a slight increase in the fertility rate (whereas the original report expected the downward trend in fertility to persevere) and a slight increase in the participation rate, especially of older male full-time employees. It makes me wonder what situation will arise if, as is likely, the participation rate increases further. As there is apparently a large proportion of the Baby Boomer generation that has insufficient funds socked away for their retirement, it seems inevitable that more of them will have to continue working beyond their planned retirement age. Perhaps this will end up being a non-event. I'll see what comes out in the next update 5 years from now.
Enough Wealth
Demographic Disaster or Hype and Hysteria?
April 2nd, 2007 at 05:19 am
April 2nd, 2007 at 08:44 pm
The other thought that crossed my mind while watching the Treasurer's speech to the press club, was "whatever happened to the increase in the superannuation preservation age?" A few years ago the Federal government introduced a phasing-in of an increase in the age at which superannuation can be accessed. The old preservation age used to be 55. It is now;
55 for those born before 1/7/1960
56 for those born in the '61 FY (1/7/1960 - 30/6/1961)
57 for those born in the '62 FY
58 for those born in the '63 FY
59 for those born in the '64 FY
and 60 for everyone born after 30/6/1964
This was introduced in July 1999. I would have thought that it would have been a good idea to raise the preservation age further as part of the introduction of "simple super" - compared to the boon of getting all super payments tax free, a phased in retirement age increase wouldn't have caused much outcry. For example,
61 for those born in '66 - '68
62 for those born in '69 - '71
63 for those born in '72 - '74
64 for those born in '75 - '77
65 for all those born after 1/1/1978
would seem quite equitable as the increase in the retirement age would parallel the continuing increase in the life expectancy.
The Treasurer at one stage appeared to be on the verge on talking about this (when he mentioned thinking of working age as "years before death" rather than chronological age), but there was nothing concrete laid out. Perhaps it will appear in the May Budget when the final version of simple super that has now been legislated is sure to be mentioned?