New CBS centre to secure the Danish pension system

The Danish pension system faces a lot of challenges in the future. The number of pensioners will grow, the Danes will have to get used to saving up more for their pension, and pension savings will be administered in a low-interest environment.

The Pension Research Centre (PeRCent) is a new research centre at CBS. It  is established to contribute to a better understanding and management of challenges like those mentioned above. The Centre is headed by Svend Erik Hougaard Jensen, Jesper Rangvid and Carsten Sørensen, CBS Professors, with Ida Willumsen as Administrative coordinator for the Centre.

- We see our work as connected with the analytical work being done in the Danish pension sector, which has contributed to our having one of the best pension systems in the world. We want to contribute to maintaining that position, not just for the next few years, but for the next 25 years, says Svend E. Hougaard Jensen.
 

Research and education

At CBS PeRCent is affiliated with the Department of Finance as well as the Department of Economics. The main activity will be to publish high quality research results, but other priorities include educating PhD's and teaching pension economics at graduate level.

- We deal with pension issues at a university level and in that way we can fill a research gap in the industry. We are going to interact with the industry by being those who work with pension issues on a foundation of research, explains Svend E. Hougaard Jensen.

The third focus for the Centre is to contribute to the public debate about pension. The Centre will host an annual 'Flagship Event' in cooperation with the pension sector, there will also be regular seminars and workshops, and the Centre will publish policy briefs explaining current topics.
 

Coherence

The Centre will be working closely with the pension sector, i.a. in an advisory board that includes business executives from the sector.

- The cooperation with the pension sector is an essential part of PeRCent. It provides us with a direct dialogue so we can coordinate our work with the sector continuously. But of course we are not in the sector's pocket, and the research we do is independent, says Svend E. Hougaard Jensen.

PeRCent's first Flagship Event will be held on 16 June this year. It will focus on the fact that the pension sector will invest in a low-interest environment, and what that will mean. The event is aimed at both researchers and sector practitioners. 
 

The Advisory Board consists of: Torben M. Andersen (Chairman, Professor at Aarhus University), Peter Løchte Jørgensen (Professor at Aarhus University), Susan Christoffersen (Professor at University of Toronto), Torben Möger Pedersen (CEO at PensionDanmark), Per Bremer Rasmussen (CEO at Forsikring & Pension), Per Klitgaard (CEO at Danica), Paul Brüniche-Olsen (CEO at Lærernes Pensionskasse), Carsten Stendevad (CEO at ATP) and Laila Mortensen (CEO at Industriens Pension).
 

For further information please contact Svend E. Hougaard Jensen

Read more about PeRCent