Pensions
How costly are unfunded public sector defined benefit pensions?
The question looms large in the economic future of the UK.
BP’s pension scheme
BP’s pension scheme was once a leading stakeholder in UK companies, but now it’s been ‘de-risked’ and may soon be hived off to an insurer. The story encapsulates the slow decline of Britain’s private sector defined benefit pension system.
QE and corporate pension liabilities
QE has driven corporate pension liabilities sky-high, and MPs are considering softening inflation-linked promises amid complaints over generational inequality. But British companies’ ever-increasing dividends makes such a move politically tricky.
Pension policy and Britain’s steel industry
How pension policy cowardice helped doom Britain’s steel industry. Tata’s decision to write off the value of its UK steelmaking business and seek a quick sale, while keeping its Dutch business, is really a story about pension regulation.