The Developed World’s Demographic Transition

Implications for Fiscal Policy and the International Macroeconomy

by Sabine Jokisch

Book cover: The Developed World’s Demographic Transition

Extent: 231 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Business & Economics

Series: Beiträge zur Finanzwissenschaft

Series volume number: 21

Language: English

(Hardback) (Published)

(March 2006)

ISBN: 9783161488610

Price: $75.00

Out of stock

Due to a period of low fertility rates and steadily rising life expectancies, almost all industrialized countries are experiencing an enormous increase in the number of old people. Sabine Jokisch analyzes the fiscal and macroeconomic impact of population aging in the US, the EU and Japan within a dynamic general equilibrium model with overlapping generations. In all three regions, the demographic transition leads to a dramatic increase in payroll tax rates. The study further simulates different reform proposals in order to analyze whether or not these could alleviate the demographic stresses. Radical pension reforms, such as full privatization of the pension system, are most promising.

1 Introduction and Outline of the Study 2 Background of the Study 2.1 The Demographic Development in the OECD between 1950 and 20502.2 The Economic Consequences of Aging Populations2.3 Methodological Considerations 3 Fiscal Systems in the OECD Countries 3.1 Public Pension Systems3.2 Health Care Systems3.3 Taxation 4 Modeling the World Economy 4.1 Population Dynamics4.2 The Structure of the Economic Model 5 Calibration and Numerical Solution of the Baseline Transition Path 5.1 Parametrization of the Model5.2 Solving the Model5.3 Initial Equilibria and the Closed Economies' Baseline Transition Paths5.4 Initial Equilibrium and the World Economy's Baseline Transition Path 6 Interaction Between Demographic Changes and Economic Outcomes 6.1 The Impact of Fertility and Mortality Changes6.2 Immigration Policies6.3 Conclusions 7 Reform Options for Public Pension Systems 7.1 Pension Reforms in the Light of Aging Populations7.2 Simulation Results of Pension Reforms7.3 Conclusions 8 International Tax Policies 8.1 The Economic Impact of Capital Income Taxation8.2 Simulation Results of International Tax Reforms8.3 Conclusions 9 General Summary Appendix A.1 Important Indicators of the Population ModelA.2 Labor-Augmenting Technological Change in OLG ModelsA.3 Calculation of Individual Consumption, Leisure and Children's ConsumptionA.4 Derivation of the National Goods Market Equilibrium

  • By (author) Sabine Jokisch