This baseline study examines the retirement adequacy of indigenous Australians. Using indigenous Australian demographic and employment data, we construct a forty years retirement savings profile. We employ simulation techniques to estimate the superannuation balance of a “typical” indigenous worker. The findings reveal that the retirement outcomes of indigenous workers are approximately 27 per cent lower than the average non-indigenous worker. We also provide baseline estimates of the gender gap in retirement outcomes for indigenous workers. We concede that improving indigenous lifetime outcomes is a significant public policy issue; one that requires many more policy levers than those available to financial economists.

Authors:

R.J. Bianchi, M.E. Drew, A.N.Walk, O.K. Wiafe

Published:

2016

Featured In:

Economic Papers: A journal of applied economics and policy, Vol. 35, No. 3

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1759-3441.12154/full

Retirement Adequacy of Indigenous Australians: A Baseline Study - Bianchi - 2016 - Economic Papers: A journal of applied economics and policy - Wiley Online Library