On Politics

Tue Jun 6 2023

Hey OnPolitics readers. Today we're wondering whether French retirees are better off than Americans. Lucky for us USA TODAY Kim Hjelmgaard breaks it down for us.

This comes as French President Emmanuel Macron recently forced through a controversial plan to raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64, sparking months of large-scale strikes and demonstrations across the country.

Two countries, two systems: Retirement income in the U.S. can come from a combination of Social Security benefits, company-sponsored programs such as a 401(k), an individual retirement account (IRA), profit-sharing schemes or another type of private, tax-advantageous retirement savings plan, Kim writes.

In France, the retirement system is made up of three basic parts: a state pension, a mandatory supplementary pension program for private industry workers, and separate voluntary private pension plans.

Important concept: Net pension replacement rate is among the most important concepts when thinking about maintain the standard of living, according to experts.

💰 See the math: The average net pension replacement rate in the U.S. vs. France.

The bottom line: Direct comparisons are tricky because the U.S. and France have really different retirement systems along with different incomes and the costs of living . There also are different cultural expectations and realities about the role of the state in helping to support retirees in other ways.

💰 Keep reading: An age-old (and old age) problem: Amid French strikes, is retirement better in America

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