Journal Article

Not your father's pension plan: the rise of 401K and other defined contribution plans

Abstract: The number of workers with a 401(k) plan grew from 7.1 million in 1983 to 38.9 million by 1993. The rapid diffusion of 401(k) and other portable defined contribution plans and the decline in defined benefit pensions represent a major change in pension structure. Old-style defined benefit pensions were designed to give a fixed income after retirement, but only for workers who stayed in a job for 20 or 30 years; workers who left early ended up with little or nothing. Resulting changes in portability, access to pension wealth, and riskiness are altering incentives for job tenure and worker mobility, retirement, and saving both before and after retirement.

Keywords: Pensions; Retirement;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Review

Publication Date: 2002

Volume: 84

Issue: Jan.