Annuity puzzle: Evidence from a Swiss pension fund

Abstract

We analyze individual annuitization decisions at retirement in an environment with mandatory participation in a funded pension pillar and low average annuity price. Using administrative data from a large Swiss insurance company over the period 2011–2015, we document that, even in this favorable environment, only 42.7% of the retirees fully annuitize, against 45% taking full lump sum. We show that individual annuitization decisions strongly respond to financial incentives, measured by the Money Worth Ratio, and to the tax rates on annuity and lump-sum payments. Lump-sum payments are more common among French- and Italian-speaking individuals. Using Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe data, we show that French- and Italian-speaking Swiss are more likely to leave inheritance—thus suggesting that preferences for bequests may affect annuitization decisions. Finally, we provide evidence of asymmetric information, using the unused observable test, to show that individuals living in high mortality municipalities are less likely to annuitize and more likely to cash out their pension wealth.