Tackling the effects of demographic change on pension systems by multi-pillar designs?
Population ageing and changing labour markets are putting increasing pressure on pension systems across Europe and beyond. In response, many countries have moved towards multi-pillar pension systems with an increasing role for funded pension schemes. Welcome to the seminar on Thursday, 10 September 2026, from 13:30 to 15:30 (CEST) / 14:30 to 16:30 (EEST) at the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Kalasatama, Helsinki. The seminar will be in English, and you can also participate via Teams.
The aim of multi-pillar pension systems is to strengthen the financial sustainability of the systems while safeguarding the adequacy of pensions and ensuring social fairness.
The European Commission has actively promoted the expansion of supplementary pension schemes across Europe. In Finland, pension provision still largely relies on a single pillar.
The seminar examines the following questions:
- How has pension system design evolved over recent decades?
- What are the key drivers behind multi-pillar reforms and other major pension trends?
- What kind of outcomes have these models delivered in practice?
Drawing on cross-national perspectives and expert discussions, the seminar offers a critical assessment of what has worked, where tensions persist, and what future reform paths may look like as societies continue to age.
Programme
13:30 CEST / 14:30 EEST Get-together with coffee
13:45 CEST / 14:45 EEST Opening remarks
Moderator Niko Väänänen, Finnish Centre for Pensions
13:50 CEST / 14:50 EEST
Yves Stevens, KU Leuven
Path dependencies, time inconsistencies in democracies and non-existing pillars: issues when reforming pensions
14:10 CEST / 15:10 EEST
Panel discussion
Pension system design and sustainable pension provision
Mikko Kautto, Finnish Centre for Pensions
Joanna Rutecka-Góra, Warsaw School of Economics
Matti Leppälä, Pensions Europe
Suzy Morrissey, Pension Policy Institute
Panel moderation Peter Lindström, Finnish Centre for Pensions
14:50 CEST / 15:50 EEST Discussion
Closing remarks
The seminar will end at 15:30 CEST / 16:30 EEST at the latest.
Registration
Register for the seminar via Webropol. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email and a calendar invitation, which will also include the Teams link.
The seminar is part of the International Network of Pension Research (INPeR) conference, which will be held at the Finnish Centre for Pensions from 9 to 11 September 2026. The seminar is organised in collaboration with INPeR.