Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/203527 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2019: 30 Jahre Mauerfall - Demokratie und Marktwirtschaft - Session: Public Economics - Pensions and Savings No. B10-V2
Publisher: 
ZBW - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft, Kiel, Hamburg
Abstract: 
This paper analyses whether the severe demographic change in Germany causes its high current account surpluses. An ageing population both increases the supply and lowers demand of capital in an economy. Due to a longer life span individuals save more. Fewer workers reduce the optimal capital stock. In addition, there are positive or negative effects on (net) foreign assets depending on how existing public pay as you go pension systems adjust in an ageing society. According to a two region model with endogenous savings, labour supply and a bequest motive that is augmented with actual demographic data projections for OECD countries, the demographic change is a key determinant of the current account. However, it cannot fully account for the magnitude of the recent German surplus. The simulation results further indicate that both a higher retirement age and a fixed pension level with a rising contribution rate reduce foreign assets. If the contribution rate is fixed and the pension level lowered to accommodate this, foreign assets increase.
Subjects: 
demographic change
current account
capital markets
pension system
OLG models
JEL: 
F21
H55
J11
Document Type: 
Conference Paper

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