IMF calls for caution on U.K. pension reforms
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has singled out the government’s Mansion House reforms for pension schemes in U.K. Article IV consultation. "Reforms to unlock pension savings for higher-return investments should not undermine financial stability or pensioner outcomes. There is a clear economic rationale for consolidating small pension funds, and potential benefits from encouraging the sector to invest more in higher-growth assets. However, realizing these outcomes will take time and persistent efforts. For instance, appropriate investment vehicles will need to be set up to facilitate the scaling up of such investments. These vehicles will need to be robustly designed, managed, and supervised. Caution is warranted around possible financial stability implications of the reforms, particularly given the context of ongoing defined benefit (DB) pension fund buy-outs and potential concentration risk created in the insurance industry from these concurrent changes. It will also be important to monitor the longer-term structural impact of these developments on gilt demand. Finally, staff encourages continued work to ensure adequate pensions for UK employees, including the consideration of expanding auto-enrollment efforts and raising the minimum pension contribution." [Source: IMF]