Skip to main content
Log in

Generational Accounts for The Netherlands: An Update

  • Published:
International Tax and Public Finance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper extends the standard generational accounting methodologyby incorporating prospective changes in the economic environment,assigning the benefits of government purchases to generations,distinguishing between public consumption and public investment,and transforming the generational accounts into government budgets.It applies the methodology to the Netherlands. An expected increasein labor-force participation almost offsets the adverse effectof aging on the sustainability of the Dutch public finances.Since the rise in labor-force participation occurs before thebulk of the aging, the government will have to run sizable fiscalsurpluses in the next decades in order to create the budgetaryroom for higher age-related government expenditures in laterdecades.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Auerbach, A.J., J. Gokhale and L.J. Kotlikoff. (1991). “Generational Accounts-A Meaningful Alternative to Deficit Accounting.” NBER working paper no. 3589.

  • Auerbach, A.J. and L.J. Kotlikoff. (1994). “Generational Accounting-A Meaningful Way to Evaluate Fiscal Policy.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 1994.

  • Auerbach, A.J. and L.J. Kotlikoff. (1999). “The Methodology of Generational Accounting.” In Auerbach, Kotlikoff and Leibfritz (eds.), Generational Accounting Around the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovenberg, A.L. (1997). “Dutch Employment Growth: An Analysis.” CPB Report 1997/2, pp. 16-24.

  • Bovenberg, A.L. and L. Meijdam. (1999). “The Dutch Pension System.” Paper prepared for DIA project on comparing pension systems in Chile, Germany, The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States.

  • Bovenberg, A.L. and H.J.M. ter Rele. (1999). “Generational Accounts for the Netherlands.” In Auerbach, Kotlikoff and Leibfritz (eds.), Generational Accounting Around the World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovenberg, A.L. and H.J.M. ter Rele. (2000). “Netherlands: Government Finances and Ageing.” In European Economy (forthcoming).

  • Buiter, W.H. (1995). “Do Generational Accounts Reveal the Effect of the Budget on Savings and Intergenerational Distribution?” NBER working paper 5087.

  • CBS/CPB. (1997). Bevolking en Arbeidsaanbrod: Drie Scenario's tot 2020. (only in Dutch), Sdu, Den Haag.

  • CPB. (1999). Centraal Economisch Plan 1999. (only in Dutch), Sdu, Den Haag.

  • CPB. (1992). Nederland in Drievoud, een Scenariostudie van de Nederlandse Economie. (only in Dutch), Sdu, Den Haag.

  • Deelen, A.P. (1995). De Ontwikkeling van de Inkomensverdeling op Lange Termijn. (only in Dutch), CPB-research memorandum 121.

  • Diamond, P. (1996). “Generational Accounts and Generational Balance: An Assessment.” National Tax Journal 49(4), 597-607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haveman, R. (1994). “Should Generational Accounts Replace Public Budgets and Deficits?” Journal of Economic Perspectives Winter, 1994.

  • Hebbink, G.E. (1996). “De Overheidslasten voor Toekomstige Generaties in Nederland.” (only in Dutch), Research Memorandum no. 474/9623. Amsterdam: The Netherlands Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempen, E.J. van. (1996). “Betaalt de Baby the Boom?” (only in Dutch), ESB, pp. 724-728.

  • Koopmanschap, M.A., L. Roijen and L. Bonneux. (1991). “Kosten van Ziekten in Nederland.” (only in Dutch), MGZ and iMTA.

  • OECD. (1996). Ageing Population, Pension Systems and Government Budgets: Simulations for 20 OECD Countries. Paris, France.

  • Raffelhueschen, B. (1999). “Generational Accounting in Europe.” American Economic Review 89(2), 167-170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rele, H.J.M. ter. (1997). “Generational Accounts for the Dutch Public Sector.” CPB research memorandum 135, the Hague, the Netherlands.

  • SCP. (1994). Sociaal en Cultureel Rapport 1994. (only in Dutch), Rijswijk, the Netherlands.

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bovenberg, A.L., Rele, H.t. Generational Accounts for The Netherlands: An Update. International Tax and Public Finance 7, 411–430 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008764817946

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008764817946

Keywords

Navigation