In Australia, employers are required to contribute to their employees’ retirement funds, known as the superannuation system. This ensures that all adults have a retirement fund, unlike in the US where employees must choose to contribute to retirement accounts like 401(k)s. As a result, Australian retirees rate their retirement happiness higher than their American counterparts, who often struggle financially in retirement due to lack of proper savings.
The US retirement system relies heavily on employee contributions, leaving many older adults anxious about their financial future. With most Americans living paycheck to paycheck, they are unable to save enough to stop working in retirement. However, implementing a system similar to Australia’s superannuation in the US could help provide more retirees with a secure retirement fund, as currently over 56 million private sector employees lack retirement benefits through their employers.
If the US were to adopt a superannuation-like retirement model, where employers are required to contribute to retirement funds, it could have a significant impact on employee salaries. While such a system could benefit those without retirement benefits and ensure financial security in old age, it may also lead companies to lower salaries to offset the additional cost of contributing to employee retirement funds. With structural differences in retirement systems between the two countries, implementing Australia’s system in the US could be challenging but may ultimately lead to better retirement outcomes for more Americans.