Deferring income in employer-sponsored retirement plansThe dynamics of participant contributions

Deferring income in employer-sponsored retirement plans

The dynamics of participant contributions

Smith

Karen E.

Smith, Karen E.

Author

Johnson

Richard W.

Johnson, Richard W.

Author

Muller

Leslie A.

Muller, Leslie A.

Author

text

working paper

Chestnut Hill, Mass. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College20042004monographic

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Center for Retirement Research at Boston College

2004

monographic

Englisheng

English

eng

electronicapplication/pdfborn digital

electronic

application/pdf

born digital

This paper describes contributions to employer-sponsored retirement accounts, using newly available longitudinal data that combine administrative earnings records with survey data. The results reveal a fair amount of individual variability in contribution rates over time. However, potential negative shocks to income and increases in current consumption needs do not appear to lead workers to curtail their contributions. Instead, workers appear to raise their contribution rates after they have achieved key milestones in the lifecourse, such as the birth of a child or the purchase of a home.

Karen E. Smith, Richard W. Johnson, and Leslie A. Muller.

CRR WP2004-20

CRR WP

2004-20

http://crr.bc.edu/images/stories/Working_Papers/wp_2004-20.pdf

MChBEnglisheng

MChB

Englisheng

English

eng