Pension Finance Literacy of Indian Government Employees with Respect to the National Pension Scheme
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17010/aijer/2021/v10i2-3/167173Keywords:
NPS
, Financial Literacy, Awareness, Demographic Variables, Government Employees, DC Pension System.Paper Submission Date
, January 15, 2021, Paper Sent Back for Revision, March 18, Paper Acceptance Date, June 29, 2021.Abstract
Pension finance literacy of individuals in India is still at a nascent stage owing to low interest and lack of awareness in this sector. The Government of India, in 2004, introduced the National Pension Scheme for government employees in place of the Old Pension Scheme. A survey was done to examine employees’ awareness about the new scheme and understand whether they were aware of the various features of the scheme. The survey included a questionnaire designed specifically for government employees and included questions regarding the scheme’s features and characteristics. Another aim of the survey was to inspect the satisfaction level of the people from the new scheme. The participants included Central and State government employees. Analysis of the results was done using t-test and ANOVA. The effect of demographic variables such as education, gender, income, and marital status on government employees’ pension finance literacy was measured. The results revealed the mixed response of employees. Although a good number of people were found to be aware of the various aspects of the scheme, demographic variables majorly affected the awareness level. Employees were found to be dissatisfied with the scheme’s performance. People wanted some changes in the scheme in aspects such as withdrawal and taxation and generally thought that the scheme was not employee-friendly. Based on the discussion with employees, some suggestions have been put forward so as to make the scheme more alluring.Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
References
Acharjee, C., & Dutta, S. (2013). Relationship between economic development and population ageing: An empirical study on selected states of India. Arthshastra Indian Journal of Economics and Research, 2(3), 23 – 31. https://doi.org/10.17010/aijer/2013/v2i3/54519.
Agnew, J. R., & Szykman, L. R. (2005). Asset allocation and information overload : The influence of information display, asset choice, and investor experience. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 6(2), 57–70. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15427579jpfm0602_2
Agnew, J. R., Szykman, L., Utkus, S. P., & Young, J. A. (2007). Literacy, trust and 401 (K) savings behavior. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1299171
Arnone, W. J. (2004). Educating pension plan participants (Pension Research Council Working Paper, No. 2004–07). The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. https://repository.upenn.edu/prc_papers/398
Beck, S. H. (1984). Retirement preparation programs: Differentials in opportunity and use. Journal of Gerontology, 39(5), 596 – 602. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/39.5.596
Calvert, L., Campbell, J. Y, & Sodini, P. (2006). Down or out: Assessing the welfare costs of household investment mistakes (NBER Working Paper No. 12030). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w12030
Choi, J., Laibson, D., Madrian, B., & Metrick, A. (2005). Saving for retirement on the path of least resistance. In E. J. McCaffery & J. Slemrod (Eds.), Behavioral public finance: Toward a new agenda (pp. 304 – 351). Russell Sage Foundation.
Evans, L., Ekerdt, D. J., & Bosse, R. (1985). Proximity to retirement and anticipatory involvement : Findings from the normative aging study. Journal of Gerontology, 40(3), 368–374. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/40.3.368
Hastings, J., Mitchell, O. S., & Chyn, E. (2011). Financial literacy and pension fund fees. Trends and issues. TIAA-CREF Institute. https://www.tiaainstitute.org/sites/default/f
Imam, A. (2011). Pension fund management in India: Government role and regulatory issues. ZENITH: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 377–387.
Invest India Economic Foundation. (2011). India’s pension reform: Chronology of events. IIEF, New Delhi.
Jacobs-Lawson, J. M., & Hershey, D. A. (2002). Perceptions of financial stability in retirement : Do Americans really know what to expect ? In S. P. Shohov (Ed.), Advances in psychology research (Vol. 22, pp. 123–136). NOVA Publishing Company.
Kefela, G. T. (2010). Promoting access to finance by empowering consumers: Financial literacy in developing countries. Educational Research and Reviews, 5(5), 205–212. https://academicjournals.org/article/article1379607640_kefela.pdf
Kilty, K. M., & Behling, J. H. (1986). Retirement financial planning among professional workers. The Gerontologist, 26(5), 525 – 530. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/26.5.525
Krishna, A. (2010). One illness away: Why people become poor and how they escape poverty. Oxford University Press.
Landerretche, O., & Martinez, C. (2013). Voluntary savings, financial behavior and pension finance literacy: Evidence from Chile. Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 12(3), 251–297. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474747212000340
Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2007). Financial literacy and retirement planning: New evidence from the Rand American Life Panel (Michigan Retirement Research Center Research Paper No. WP 2007-157). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1095869
Lusardi, A. (2006). Financial literacy and financial education: Review and policy implications. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.923437
Mitchell, O. S., & Utkus, S. P. (2003). Lessons from behavioral finance for retirement plan design (Wharton Pension Research Council Working Paper No. 2003-06). https://repository.upenn.edu/prc_papers/422
Moore, D. L. (2003). Survey of financial literacy in Washington State: Knowledge, behavior, attitudes, and experiences (SESRC Technical Report 03–39). Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, Washington State University. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4729.4722
Planning Commission. (2008). Eleventh Five-Year plan. http://planningcommission.gov.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/ 11_v1/11th_vol1.pd
Remund, D. L. (2010). Financial literacy explicated : The case for a clearer definition in an increasingly complex economy. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44(2), 276–295. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01169.x
Richardson, V., & Kilty, K. M. (1989). Retirement financial planning among black professionals. The Gerontologist 29(1), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/29.1.32
Sane, R., & Thomas, S. (2014). The way forward for India’s National Pension System (IGIDR Working Paper 2014-022). Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
Sunden, A. E., & Surette, B. J. (1998). Gender differences in the allocation of assets in retirement savings plans. The American Economic Review, 88(2), 207–211. https://www.jstor.org/stable/116920
Weagley, R. O., & Eunjeong, H. (2004). The impact of retirement on household leisure expenditures. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 38(2), 262–281. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2004.tb00868.x
Wills, L., & Ross, D. (2002). Exploring the retirement savings gap: An Australian perspective. Pensions Institute, Birckbeck College. http://hdl.handle.net/10068/443964
Worthington, A. C. (2005). Debt as a source of financial stress in Australian households. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 30(1), 2–15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2005.00420.x