The potential impact of recent Government pension policy announcements is considered in the latest issue of Insurance Trends, the ABI’s quarterly research publication issued today.

To save or not to save; the impact of the pension credit, looks at the potential impact of recent Government announcements on both pension income for today’s pensioners, and the level of private pension provision of today’s workers with low or moderate incomes.

The report concludes that:

• the Pension Credit will increase the income of today’s pensioners;
  
  
• however, the impact on savings behaviour is ambiguous for many of today’s workers;
  
  
• the success of stakeholder pensions and future levels of retirement income will depend on how the Pension Credit is treated within the regulation regime.

Other articles appearing in this issue of Insurance Trends are:

• Regulatory reform – examines the role of regulation in relation to the consumer. It examines how regulations can reduce consumer welfare, and considers the benefits to consumers from regulatory reform.
  
  
• Liberalisation of insurance markets – considers the case for and against liberalisation of insurance markets. It considers why countries adopt protectionist measures, the benefits from insurance liberalisation, and the pressures exerted to bring about greater foreign involvement in domestic insurance markets.

Also included is an update on the latest research reports published as part of the ABI’s medium term research strategy for general insurance.

Notes

1. Individual copies of Insurance Trends are available free of charge. Attached is a copy of the article a Pension Credit.
   
   
2. Enquiries to-

   Malcolm Tarling 020 7216 7410 (Home 020 8217 9510)
   Suzanne Moore 020 7216 7411

   
   
3. An ISDN line is available for broadcasts.