The pensions timebomb: Track 8

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Over the last three decades major events, scandals and regulations have shocked the pension system. Have the public lost faith in occupational and private pensions? Should the state pension be enough to see us through our old age? And with the non-working to working ratio continuing to rapidly increase, who will pay? We hear from those that were directly affected by the scandals of the 90's and the collapse in private pensions since - and from the experts whose job it is to help us make provisions for old age. This material forms part of The Open University course DB234 Personal investment in an uncertain world

By: The OpenLearn team (The Open University,)

Duration 50 mins
Updated Monday 29th March 2010
Posted under Sociology

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Track 8: What is the UK government doing?

How can the government help in encouraging future generations to save and make provisions for their retirement?

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Tracks in this podcast:

Track	Title	Description
1	The pension timebomb	A short introduction to this album. Play now The pension timebomb
2	The history of the pension	Why has there been such sever shocks to the pension system that over the last three decades? Play now The history of the pension
3	Final salary pension schemes	Nowadays many people are forced to work beyond retirement age, how did this occur and where did it all go wrong? Play now Final salary pension schemes
4	Occupational pension scandals	How did £440 million go missing from The Mirror Group pension fund? Who was responsible and what were the repercussions? Play now Occupational pension scandals
5	Regulating pensions	In 1995 the government introduced a pensions regulator to oversee the schemes, their task was to ensure that these scandals didn’t re-occur. Play now Regulating pensions
6	Pensions: The rise and fall of the world equity markets	How did the decline of the world equity markets damage final pension schemes? What precautions should have been taken when times were good? Play now Pensions: The rise and fall of the world equity markets
7	Raising the retirement age	As the non-working to working ratio increases, what available options do we have to ensure we don’t grow old in poverty? Play now Raising the retirement age
8	What is the UK government doing?	How can the government help in encouraging future generations to save and make provisions for their retirement? Play now What is the UK government doing?
9	Will we have enough money when we retire?	With an uncertain future is it our duty to look after the retired? Or is it the individuals responsibility to plan for old age? Play now Will we have enough money when we retire?
10	Pensions in context	The Open University’s Martin Upton, Jonquil Lowe and Alan Shipman discuss the ideas and developments in the UK pension industry and future plans to secure provisions for old age. Play now Pensions in context