Some of the leading names in pensions research have come together to create a new international association which aims to promote and advance high-quality social science research on pensions, ageing, and retirement.
The International Pension Research Association (IPRA) was formally announced at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France. Led by highly regarded Australian pension economist Professor Hazel Bateman, who will serve as the inaugural IPRA President, the association aims to facilitate a global network of pension researchers, and to build a broad individual and organisational membership.
"I am excited to be part of this important association," said Hazel Bateman, Professor in the School of Risk & Actuarial Studies at UNSW Sydney and Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research .
"As the population ages rapidly, pension, ageing and retirement experts around the world are conducting evidence-based research to provide solutions to important social and economic challenges," she said.
"With many different approaches and stages of system maturity worldwide, this association provides a unique opportunity to link the global research community to share research findings and best practice."
With the OECD serving as the Secretariat, the inaugural Executive Board includes founding members and leading economists, Professor Monika Buetler of the University of St. Gallen and the Network for Studies on Pensions, Aging, and Retirement ; Professor Olivia S. Mitchell, Director of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Scientia Professor John Piggott, Director of CEPAR at UNSW Sydney; and Dr Michael Orszag, Head of Research at Willis Towers Watson.
"IPRA aims to be an authoritative voice of pension research," Monika Buetler said. "It will disseminate research of individual and institutional members to provide valuable analysis of pension research around the world to the global community."
To achieve its aims, the association will organise a schedule of events, including a global biennial research meeting, specialised regional workshops, early career workshops, and webinars to highlight new pension research.
"These events will facilitate networking, support the sharing of information and promote high-quality social science research on pensions, ageing, and retirement," said Michael Orszag.
"The association will also support and facilitate the development of junior researchers, and establish IPRA Fellowships to recognise research leaders for their contributions to the field," said Olivia S. Mitchell.
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The association founders encourage individual researchers and organisations, including policy groups, interested in pensions, from across the world to join. For enquiries,
