Coping with flexibility
Behavioral adaptations to the new pension system and their consequences in a lifetime perspective.

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
The aim of this project is to study how people adapt to the reformed pension system. In particular, we look at adaptations to the increasing flexibility offered – both in terms of savings, and in terms of job planning and ways of combining work and pension uptake. Such adaptations are likely to have important consequences for economic well-being and living conditions in retirement. We will combine quantitative, register-based studies of actual behaviour with qualitative in-depth interviews of people in age groups that are about to enter retirement. We will draw special attention to the situation of immigrants in the new pension system, and we will study the coverage rates of occupational pension schemes, including the AFP-scheme, and interactions between these schemes and the National Insurance scheme.
Project Approach
The project is divided into three modules. Module A contains three studies using register data and data from the micro-simulation model MOSART. The first study focusses on combinations of pension uptake and continued employment, the second on generational changes in savings behaviour, and the third on the accrual of pension rights and projected pension benefits among different categories of immigrants.
The aim of module B is to update and analyse a unique database combining longitudinal simulations of individual employment careers with data on the accrual of occupational pension rights and participation in the AFP-scheme. The data will be used to perform an up-to-date analysis of the interplay between the three sources of pension rights among Norwegian employees and its distributive implications.
Finally, Module C is devoted to a study of subjective retirement planning in terms of expectations, preferences and behavioural dispositions among individuals approaching the early retirement age at 62 and individuals in the age group 62-67 who have made different choices concerning pension claiming and labour market withdrawal. This module offers a subjective and qualitative take on some of the same issues that are addressed in the two first sub-studies of module A and module B.
Participants
Participant | Degree | Phone | |
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Anne Skevik Grødem Research Professor | Dr. polit. | +47 920 56 232 | a.s.grodem@samfunnsforskning.no |
Sigtona Halrynjo Senior Resarch Fellow | PhD | +47 481 21 698 | sigtona.halrynjo@samfunnsforskning.no |
Ragni Hege Kitterød Research Professor | Dr. polit. | +47 950 50 375 | hege.kitterod@samfunnsforskning.no |
Jon M. Hippe | |||
Elin Halvorsen | |||
Axel West Pedersen |
Publications
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Grødem, Anne Skevik & Kitterød, Hege (2021). Combining Work and Pension in Norway: Gathering Information and Imagining the Future. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies. p. 1–19. doi: 10.18291/njwls.127972. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
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Grødem, Anne Skevik & Kitterød, Hege (2021). Older workers imagining retirement: the collapse of agency, or freedom at last? Ageing & Society. doi: 10.1017/S0144686X20002044. Full text in Research Archive
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Pedersen, Axel West & Schøyen, Mi Ah (2021). Welfare state redistribution between overlapping generations – normative theories applied to two contemporary debates. In Falch-Eriksen, Asgeir; Takle, Marianne & Britt, Slagsvold (Ed.), Generational Tensions and Solidarity Within Advanced Welfare States. Routledge. p. 19–37. Full text in Research Archive
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Grødem, Anne Skevik (2020). Arbeidslinja – nå også for 70-åringer? Eldre arbeidstakeres tanker om lønnsarbeid, pensjon og det gode liv. Søkelys på arbeidslivet. 37(4), p. 252–266. doi: 10.18261/issn.1504-7989-2020-04-03. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
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Pedersen, Axel West (2021). The Norwegian pension reform miracle and the trilemma of minimum protection in old age . Show summary
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Pedersen, Axel West (2021). Bidrar folketrygdens pensjonssystem til inntektsutjevning i et livsløpsperspektiv?
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Grødem, Anne Skevik (2020). Seniorenes tanker om pensjonisttilværelsen- hva forteller de oss om betingelsene for fortsatt yrkesaktivitet? .
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Grødem, Anne Skevik (2020). Yrkesaktiv etter 55 - Hva vet vi om individuell atferd og tilpasninger og hva virker av arbeidsgivers tiltak? .
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Kitterød, Ragni Hege (2020). Pensjonsuttak og yrkesavgang – seniorers betraktninger om penger og tid.
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Pedersen, Axel West (2020). Arbeiderpartiet tar feil om samordningsfella. [Business/trade/industry journal]. Fagbladet.
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Pedersen, Axel West (2020). Hva er et godt pensjonssystem? Økonomisk, sosial og politisk bærekraft.
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Pedersen, Axel West (2019). Noen vil tape 1–2 millioner kroner i pensjon hvis de jobber frem til fylte 73 år . Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.).
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Pedersen, Axel West (2019). Velferdsstat og fordeling mellom generasjoner.
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Pedersen, Axel West (2019). The price of sustainability.
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Pedersen, Axel West (2019). Pensjonsreformen åtte år etter - dilemma og veivalg.