An Analysis of Risk-Taking Behavior for Public Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Authors

Nancy Mohan, University of Dayton
Ting Zhang, University of DaytonFollow

Publication Date

1-25-2012

Series

Upjohn Institute working paper ; 12-179

DOI

10.17848/wp12-179

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of public pension plan risk-taking behavior using the percentage of total plan assets invested in the equity markets and the pension asset beta as measures of investment risk. We find that government accounting standards strongly affect public fund investment risk, as higher return assumptions (used to discount pension liabilities) are associated with higher equity allocation and beta. Unlike private pension plans, public funds undertake more risk if they are underfunded and have lower investment returns in the previous years, consistent with the risk transfer hypothesis. Furthermore, pension funds in states facing financial constraints allocate more assets to equity and have higher pension asset betas. There also appears to be a herding effect in that a change in CalPERS portfolio beta or equity allocation is mimicked by other pension funds. Finally, the results offer mild support of a public union effect.

Issue Date

November 18, 2011

Subject Areas

LABOR MARKET ISSUES; Retirement and pensions