Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds

Public pension funds have the potential to benefit from low operating costs because they enjoy economies of scale and avoid large marketing costs. But this important advantage has in most countries been dissipated by poor investment performance. Th...

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Main Authors: Vittas, Dimitri, Impavido, Gregorio, O'Connor, Ronan
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
TAX
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/01/9434191/upgrading-investment-policy-framework-public-pension-funds
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6720
id okr-10986-6720
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCOUNTANT
ACCOUNTING
ALTERNATIVE ASSET
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ASSET ALLOCATION
ASSET ALLOCATIONS
ASSET CLASS
ASSET CLASSES
ASSET MANAGEMENT
ASSET MANAGERS
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT COMMITTEES
BALANCE SHEET
BASIS POINTS
BOND
BOND PORTFOLIO
CASH FLOWS
CENTRAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTRIBUTIONS
CORPORATE BONDS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
CREDIT RATING
CURRENCY
CUSTODY
DEBT
DEBT LEVEL
DEBT MANAGEMENT
DEBT MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
DEBT SECURITIES
DERIVATIVE
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS
DERIVATIVES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIRECT INVESTMENT
DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIOS
DOMESTIC MARKET
DOMESTIC SECURITIES
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EFFICIENT INVESTMENT
ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS
ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS
EMERGING MARKET
EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES
EMERGING MARKETS
EQUITIES
EQUITY FUNDS
EQUITY INDEX
EQUITY INVESTMENTS
EQUITY MARKET
EQUITY MARKETS
EQUITY RETURNS
EXCHANGE CONTROL
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL ASSET
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL MARKET
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL POLICY
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
FISCAL CONSTRAINTS
FISCAL DEFICITS
FIXED INCOME
FOREIGN EQUITIES
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN MARKETS
FUND MANAGEMENT
FUTURES
GLOBAL MARKETS
GOVERNANCE ISSUES
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS
GOVERNMENT BONDS
GOVERNMENT BORROWING
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT BUDGET DEFICIT
GOVERNMENT DEBT
GOVERNMENT FINANCES
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT PENSION
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
HEDGE FUNDS
HOLDING
HOLDINGS
HOLDINGS OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
HOME MARKETS
HOSTILE TAKEOVERS
INCOME INSTRUMENTS
INCOME SECURITIES
INFLATION
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
INSURANCE
INSURANCE COMPANIES
INTEREST EXPENDITURE
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNAL AUDIT
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
INVESTING
INVESTMENT ASSETS
INVESTMENT BANK
INVESTMENT CORPORATION
INVESTMENT DECISION
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT FUNDS
INVESTMENT GUIDELINES
INVESTMENT HORIZON
INVESTMENT HORIZONS
INVESTMENT INCOME
INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
INVESTMENT POLICIES
INVESTMENT POLICY
INVESTMENT PROJECTS
INVESTMENT RETURNS
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
LABOR MARKET
LEVEL OF RISK
LIABILITY
LIFE INSURANCE
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES
LIQUID BENCHMARK
LIQUID INSTRUMENTS
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY POSITION
LOCAL ECONOMY
LOCAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL MARKET
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
MARKET CONDITIONS
MARKET INDEX
MARKET LEVELS
MARKET RETURNS
MARKETABLE ASSETS
MARKETABLE INSTRUMENTS
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
MARKETING
MATURITIES
MORTGAGE
MORTGAGES
NATIONAL INVESTMENT
NATIONAL TREASURY
PENSION
PENSION FUND
PENSION FUND ASSETS
PENSION FUNDS
PENSION PLAN
PENSION PLANS
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSIONS
PERSONAL INCOME
POOR INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
PRIVATE EQUITY
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE PENSION
PRIVATE PENSION FUNDS
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC FUND
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC MARKETS
PUBLIC PENSION
PUBLIC PENSIONS
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF INTEREST
RATES OF RETURN
RECORD KEEPING
REPAYMENT
RESERVE
RESERVE FUND
RESERVES
RETURNS
RISK EXPOSURES
SAVINGS
SAVINGS PLAN
SECONDARY MARKET
SENIOR
SETTLEMENT
SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS
SHARE OF ASSETS
SHAREHOLDER
SHAREHOLDERS
SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND
STAKEHOLDERS
STOCK MARKET
SWAPS
TAX
THRIFT
TRADE UNION
TRADING
TRANSACTION
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSPARENCY
TREASURY BILLS
TRUST FUND
USE OF DERIVATIVES
VALUATION
VALUATIONS
YIELD CURVE
spellingShingle ACCOUNTANT
ACCOUNTING
ALTERNATIVE ASSET
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ASSET ALLOCATION
ASSET ALLOCATIONS
ASSET CLASS
ASSET CLASSES
ASSET MANAGEMENT
ASSET MANAGERS
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT COMMITTEES
BALANCE SHEET
BASIS POINTS
BOND
BOND PORTFOLIO
CASH FLOWS
CENTRAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONTRIBUTIONS
CORPORATE BONDS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
CREDIT RATING
CURRENCY
CUSTODY
DEBT
DEBT LEVEL
DEBT MANAGEMENT
DEBT MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
DEBT SECURITIES
DERIVATIVE
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS
DERIVATIVES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIRECT INVESTMENT
DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIOS
DOMESTIC MARKET
DOMESTIC SECURITIES
ECONOMIC POLICIES
EFFICIENT INVESTMENT
ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS
ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS
EMERGING MARKET
EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES
EMERGING MARKETS
EQUITIES
EQUITY FUNDS
EQUITY INDEX
EQUITY INVESTMENTS
EQUITY MARKET
EQUITY MARKETS
EQUITY RETURNS
EXCHANGE CONTROL
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNAL ASSET
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION
FINANCIAL MARKET
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL POLICY
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL SYSTEMS
FISCAL CONSTRAINTS
FISCAL DEFICITS
FIXED INCOME
FOREIGN EQUITIES
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES
FOREIGN INVESTORS
FOREIGN MARKETS
FUND MANAGEMENT
FUTURES
GLOBAL MARKETS
GOVERNANCE ISSUES
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS
GOVERNMENT BONDS
GOVERNMENT BORROWING
GOVERNMENT BUDGET
GOVERNMENT BUDGET DEFICIT
GOVERNMENT DEBT
GOVERNMENT FINANCES
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
GOVERNMENT PENSION
GOVERNMENT POLICY
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
HEDGE FUNDS
HOLDING
HOLDINGS
HOLDINGS OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
HOME MARKETS
HOSTILE TAKEOVERS
INCOME INSTRUMENTS
INCOME SECURITIES
INFLATION
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS
INSURANCE
INSURANCE COMPANIES
INTEREST EXPENDITURE
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNAL AUDIT
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
INVESTING
INVESTMENT ASSETS
INVESTMENT BANK
INVESTMENT CORPORATION
INVESTMENT DECISION
INVESTMENT DECISIONS
INVESTMENT FUNDS
INVESTMENT GUIDELINES
INVESTMENT HORIZON
INVESTMENT HORIZONS
INVESTMENT INCOME
INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
INVESTMENT POLICIES
INVESTMENT POLICY
INVESTMENT PROJECTS
INVESTMENT RETURNS
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
LABOR MARKET
LEVEL OF RISK
LIABILITY
LIFE INSURANCE
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES
LIQUID BENCHMARK
LIQUID INSTRUMENTS
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY POSITION
LOCAL ECONOMY
LOCAL FINANCIAL MARKETS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL MARKET
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
MARKET CONDITIONS
MARKET INDEX
MARKET LEVELS
MARKET RETURNS
MARKETABLE ASSETS
MARKETABLE INSTRUMENTS
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
MARKETING
MATURITIES
MORTGAGE
MORTGAGES
NATIONAL INVESTMENT
NATIONAL TREASURY
PENSION
PENSION FUND
PENSION FUND ASSETS
PENSION FUNDS
PENSION PLAN
PENSION PLANS
PENSION SYSTEM
PENSIONS
PERSONAL INCOME
POOR INVESTMENT
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
PRIVATE EQUITY
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE PENSION
PRIVATE PENSION FUNDS
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC FUND
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC MARKETS
PUBLIC PENSION
PUBLIC PENSIONS
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF INTEREST
RATES OF RETURN
RECORD KEEPING
REPAYMENT
RESERVE
RESERVE FUND
RESERVES
RETURNS
RISK EXPOSURES
SAVINGS
SAVINGS PLAN
SECONDARY MARKET
SENIOR
SETTLEMENT
SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS
SHARE OF ASSETS
SHAREHOLDER
SHAREHOLDERS
SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND
STAKEHOLDERS
STOCK MARKET
SWAPS
TAX
THRIFT
TRADE UNION
TRADING
TRANSACTION
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSPARENCY
TREASURY BILLS
TRUST FUND
USE OF DERIVATIVES
VALUATION
VALUATIONS
YIELD CURVE
Vittas, Dimitri
Impavido, Gregorio
O'Connor, Ronan
Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
geographic_facet East Asia and Pacific
Europe and Central Asia
Norway
New Zealand
Ireland
Canada
relation Policy Research Working Paper No. 4499
description Public pension funds have the potential to benefit from low operating costs because they enjoy economies of scale and avoid large marketing costs. But this important advantage has in most countries been dissipated by poor investment performance. The latter has been attributed to a weak governance structure, lack of independence from government interference, and a low level of transparency and public accountability. Recent years have witnessed the creation of new public pension funds in several countries, and the modernization of existing ones in others, with special emphasis placed on upgrading their investment policy framework and strengthening their governance structure. This paper focuses on the experience of four new public pension funds that have been created in Norway, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. The paper discusses the safeguards that have been introduced to ensure their independence and their insulation from political pressures. It also reviews their performance and their evolving investment strategies. All four funds started with the romantic idea of operating as 'managers of managers' and focusing on external passive management but their strategies have progressively evolved to embrace internal active management and significant investments in alternative asset classes. The paper draws lessons for other countries that wish to modernize their public pension funds.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Vittas, Dimitri
Impavido, Gregorio
O'Connor, Ronan
author_facet Vittas, Dimitri
Impavido, Gregorio
O'Connor, Ronan
author_sort Vittas, Dimitri
title Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
title_short Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
title_full Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
title_fullStr Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
title_full_unstemmed Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds
title_sort upgrading the investment policy framework of public pension funds
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2012
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/01/9434191/upgrading-investment-policy-framework-public-pension-funds
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6720
_version_ 1764400761767198720
spelling okr-10986-67202021-04-23T14:02:31Z Upgrading the Investment Policy Framework of Public Pension Funds Vittas, Dimitri Impavido, Gregorio O'Connor, Ronan ACCOUNTANT ACCOUNTING ALTERNATIVE ASSET ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS ASSET ALLOCATION ASSET ALLOCATIONS ASSET CLASS ASSET CLASSES ASSET MANAGEMENT ASSET MANAGERS AUDIT COMMITTEE AUDIT COMMITTEES BALANCE SHEET BASIS POINTS BOND BOND PORTFOLIO CASH FLOWS CENTRAL BANK COMMERCIAL BANKS CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CONSUMER PROTECTION CONTRIBUTIONS CORPORATE BONDS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CREDIT INSTITUTIONS CREDIT RATING CURRENCY CUSTODY DEBT DEBT LEVEL DEBT MANAGEMENT DEBT MANAGEMENT AGENCIES DEBT SECURITIES DERIVATIVE DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS DERIVATIVES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DIRECT INVESTMENT DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIOS DOMESTIC MARKET DOMESTIC SECURITIES ECONOMIC POLICIES EFFICIENT INVESTMENT ELIGIBLE INSTRUMENTS ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS EMERGING MARKET EMERGING MARKET COUNTRIES EMERGING MARKETS EQUITIES EQUITY FUNDS EQUITY INDEX EQUITY INVESTMENTS EQUITY MARKET EQUITY MARKETS EQUITY RETURNS EXCHANGE CONTROL EXPENDITURES EXTERNAL ASSET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS FINANCIAL LIBERALIZATION FINANCIAL MARKET FINANCIAL MARKETS FINANCIAL POLICY FINANCIAL SECTOR FINANCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FINANCIAL SYSTEMS FISCAL CONSTRAINTS FISCAL DEFICITS FIXED INCOME FOREIGN EQUITIES FOREIGN EXCHANGE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES FOREIGN INVESTORS FOREIGN MARKETS FUND MANAGEMENT FUTURES GLOBAL MARKETS GOVERNANCE ISSUES GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS GOVERNMENT BONDS GOVERNMENT BORROWING GOVERNMENT BUDGET GOVERNMENT BUDGET DEFICIT GOVERNMENT DEBT GOVERNMENT FINANCES GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT GOVERNMENT PENSION GOVERNMENT POLICY GOVERNMENT SECURITIES HEDGE FUNDS HOLDING HOLDINGS HOLDINGS OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES HOME MARKETS HOSTILE TAKEOVERS INCOME INSTRUMENTS INCOME SECURITIES INFLATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS INSURANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INTEREST EXPENDITURE INTEREST RATE INTEREST RATES INTERNAL AUDIT INTERNATIONAL BANK INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT INTERNATIONAL MARKETS INVESTING INVESTMENT ASSETS INVESTMENT BANK INVESTMENT CORPORATION INVESTMENT DECISION INVESTMENT DECISIONS INVESTMENT FUNDS INVESTMENT GUIDELINES INVESTMENT HORIZON INVESTMENT HORIZONS INVESTMENT INCOME INVESTMENT INSTITUTIONS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE INVESTMENT POLICIES INVESTMENT POLICY INVESTMENT PROJECTS INVESTMENT RETURNS INVESTMENT STRATEGIES INVESTMENT STRATEGY LABOR MARKET LEVEL OF RISK LIABILITY LIFE INSURANCE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES LIQUID BENCHMARK LIQUID INSTRUMENTS LIQUIDITY LIQUIDITY POSITION LOCAL ECONOMY LOCAL FINANCIAL MARKETS LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL MARKET LONG-TERM INVESTMENT MARKET CONDITIONS MARKET INDEX MARKET LEVELS MARKET RETURNS MARKETABLE ASSETS MARKETABLE INSTRUMENTS MARKETABLE SECURITIES MARKETING MATURITIES MORTGAGE MORTGAGES NATIONAL INVESTMENT NATIONAL TREASURY PENSION PENSION FUND PENSION FUND ASSETS PENSION FUNDS PENSION PLAN PENSION PLANS PENSION SYSTEM PENSIONS PERSONAL INCOME POOR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PRIVATE EQUITY PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRIVATE PENSION PRIVATE PENSION FUNDS PUBLIC DEBT PUBLIC FUND PUBLIC FUNDS PUBLIC MARKETS PUBLIC PENSION PUBLIC PENSIONS RATE OF RETURN RATES OF INTEREST RATES OF RETURN RECORD KEEPING REPAYMENT RESERVE RESERVE FUND RESERVES RETURNS RISK EXPOSURES SAVINGS SAVINGS PLAN SECONDARY MARKET SENIOR SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS SHARE OF ASSETS SHAREHOLDER SHAREHOLDERS SOCIAL INSURANCE FUND STAKEHOLDERS STOCK MARKET SWAPS TAX THRIFT TRADE UNION TRADING TRANSACTION TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSPARENCY TREASURY BILLS TRUST FUND USE OF DERIVATIVES VALUATION VALUATIONS YIELD CURVE Public pension funds have the potential to benefit from low operating costs because they enjoy economies of scale and avoid large marketing costs. But this important advantage has in most countries been dissipated by poor investment performance. The latter has been attributed to a weak governance structure, lack of independence from government interference, and a low level of transparency and public accountability. Recent years have witnessed the creation of new public pension funds in several countries, and the modernization of existing ones in others, with special emphasis placed on upgrading their investment policy framework and strengthening their governance structure. This paper focuses on the experience of four new public pension funds that have been created in Norway, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. The paper discusses the safeguards that have been introduced to ensure their independence and their insulation from political pressures. It also reviews their performance and their evolving investment strategies. All four funds started with the romantic idea of operating as 'managers of managers' and focusing on external passive management but their strategies have progressively evolved to embrace internal active management and significant investments in alternative asset classes. The paper draws lessons for other countries that wish to modernize their public pension funds. 2012-05-30T21:53:38Z 2012-05-30T21:53:38Z 2008-01 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2008/01/9434191/upgrading-investment-policy-framework-public-pension-funds http://hdl.handle.net/10986/6720 English Policy Research Working Paper No. 4499 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research East Asia and Pacific Europe and Central Asia Norway New Zealand Ireland Canada