IMF Staff Country Reports

Luxembourg: Selected Issues

Publication Date:

May 10, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

This Selected Issues paper studies the fiscal and macroeconomic impact of different reform options. It analyzes the impact of an increase in the contribution rate, a reduction of benefits, and an increase in the retirement age. Although all reform options can lead to the fiscal sustainability of the system, there are important macroeconomic trade-offs among them. Although the Luxembourg’s pension system is sound over the near term, further reforms are needed to ensure its long-term sustainability. This paper explored the fiscal and macroeconomic impact of several reform options: an increase in the contribution rate, a reduction of benefits, and an increase in the retirement age. Although all these reforms would help ensuring fiscal long-term sustainability, there are important macroeconomic trade-offs. Even though an increase in contribution rates can be implemented immediately, it introduces distortions in the labor market which lead to a decline in GDP in addition to a decline in consumption.

Series:

Country Report No. 2019/131

Subject:

Aging Expenditure Labor Pension reform Pension spending Pensions Population and demographics Retirement