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Optimal VIX-linked structure for the target benefit pension plan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2023

Lv Chen
Affiliation:
Academy of Statistics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, KLATASDS-MOE, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Danping Li*
Affiliation:
School of Statistics, KLATASDS-MOE, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Yumin Wang
Affiliation:
Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies and Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Xiaobai Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Finance, CUHK Business School, Hong Kong, China
*
Corresponding author: Danping Li; Email: dpli@fem.ecnu.edu.cn

Abstract

In this paper, we study the optimal VIX-linked target benefit (TB) pension design. By applying the dynamic programming approach, we show the optimal risk-sharing structure for the benefit payment exhibits a linear form that consists of three components: (1) a model-robust performance adjustment, (2) a counter-cyclical volatility adjustment that depends on the VIX index, and (3) a TB level that is partially indexed to the cost-of-living adjustment. Differences between our results and the previous literature are highlighted via both theoretical derivations and numerical illustrations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The International Actuarial Association

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