System emerytalny w Izraelu - przegląd rozwiązań
A Pensions Panorama: Reviewing Israel’s Pension System

Summary/Abstract: Pension systems differ substantially: countries have diverse economies and populations, and distinctive ideological characteristics, they differ in their welfare, economic ideology, and their citizens’ propensity to save. This paper reviews the Israeli pension system, and its past, present, and future challenges. It describes the changes from the first regulations by the Histadrut Union from the “pre-state period”, the privatization reforms of 1985 which excluded Histadrut from the healthcare and pension systems, the stabilization of the system in 1995, the later government involvement including Old Age Insurance (based on age and number of insurance years), and the application of the mandatory pension law in 2008. The Israeli pension system relies mainly on mandatory private retirement savings, which will moderate the long-term fiscal impact. Given the important role played by private pension schemes and the regressive nature of some of its tax provisions, the main reform challenge was the system's ability to effectively protect the elderly, and its efficiency in securing and valuing retirement savings to guarantee pension adequacy. Ensuring pension adequacy and addressing longevity risks requires appropriate preparation by promoting a further rise in senior employment rates, reinforcing the protective role of basic pensions and the efficiency of the management of private retirement savings, and improving the fairness and effectiveness of the system’s second pillar. The study includes the author’s assessments and reflects on the implications of the highlighted changes, which adds to the discussion on the pros and cons of pension system structures.

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