Pension reform and intergenerational solidarity in The Netherlands; A statistical analysis of changing policy preferences (2005-2017)

This thesis investigates the preferences and drivers behind the preferences of a representative group of Dutch people with regards to their PAYG general old age pension system and ways to make the system more financially sustainable between 2005 and 2018. Both reforms in 2011 and 2014 are included, raising the pension age by less than a year for some and more than seven years for later years. The main drivers being analysed are financial self-interest and intergenerational solidarity. This research finds some evidence pointing towards financial self-interest being a driver behind pension reform preferences and finds some evidence to point to the presence of intergenerational solidarity as a driver behind pension reform preferences. These results and the developments the research highlights are useful for further pension policy changes with regard to sustainability.