Status and Implications of Individuals’ Retirement Preparation Facing Retirement Crisis

Abstract

This study investigates the factors that affect the retirement preparation strategy of the elderly in the current situation where retirement preparation strategies can be established with various financial products. Using the data from Korean Retirement and Income Study (KReIS), we analyze the current status and determinants of the appropriate cost of living for old age, the level of preparation for old age, and subscription to pension products judged by individuals. We found that individual characteristics, income characteristics, household characteristics, and occupational characteristics were influenced to individual retirement preparation strategies. In particular, the higher the level of education and income, the higher the possibility that an individual's reasonable cost of living in old age is higher, the possibility of preparing for old age, and the possibility of joining an annuity product. What is noteworthy is that the capital market environment has been created so that individuals can establish optimal retirement preparation strategies through the development of various financial products, but only a small number of people use them.