The Dynamics of Employers` Pension Choices

Abstract

By using rich twelve-year panel data of long-standing firms, identifying the 401(k) plan as a distinct pension choice, and separating employers’ pension decisions at both the primary plan and the secondary plan levels, we obtain detailed information about how long-standing firms chose 401(k) or other pension plans at both levels. The unique formulation of the proposed multinomial logit model with random-effects enables us to analyze the dynamic effects of industrial classification, plan age, firm size, and union status on employers’ pension choices. The estimation of the random-effects allows us to establish the general patterns in employers’ pension plan decisions that are independent of the time and plan characteristics. One striking empirical finding is that firms in the manufacturing industry are more inclined to switch their primary plans from defined benefit to defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plans.