Behind Closed Doors: Intra-Couple Pension and Wealth Gaps in Germany and Beyond

Nicole  Kapelle; Andreas P.  Weiland

Behind Closed Doors: Intra-Couple Pension and Wealth Gaps in Germany and Beyond

Nicole Kapelle
, Andreas P. Weiland

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Significant pension and wealth gaps persist within retired couples, particularly in West Germany, where gendered employment trajectories translate into markedly lower individual resources for women.

Institutional design matters: countries with dual-earner employment models and more universal public pensions show much smaller intra-couple disparities than systems relying heavily on earnings-related and private pension pillars.

Strengthening individual pension rights and supporting continuous employment for women—through childcare provision, equitable parental leave, and inclusive pension rules—is essential to ensuring financial security for both partners in retirement.

Original language	English
Type	LIS issues a quarterly newsletter Inequality Matters focusing on inequality research
Media of output	Website
Publisher	LIS (Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg)
Place of Publication	Luxembourg
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	LIS Newsletter Inequality Matters
Publisher	Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) and the LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg (LIS)
No.	36

Access to Document

https://www.lisdatacenter.org/newsletter/nl-2025-36-im-2/

Cite this

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title = "Behind Closed Doors: Intra-Couple Pension and Wealth Gaps in Germany and Beyond",

abstract = "Significant pension and wealth gaps persist within retired couples, particularly in West Germany, where gendered employment trajectories translate into markedly lower individual resources for women. Institutional design matters: countries with dual-earner employment models and more universal public pensions show much smaller intra-couple disparities than systems relying heavily on earnings-related and private pension pillars. Strengthening individual pension rights and supporting continuous employment for women—through childcare provision, equitable parental leave, and inclusive pension rules—is essential to ensuring financial security for both partners in retirement. ",

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AU - Weiland, Andreas P.

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N2 - Significant pension and wealth gaps persist within retired couples, particularly in West Germany, where gendered employment trajectories translate into markedly lower individual resources for women. Institutional design matters: countries with dual-earner employment models and more universal public pensions show much smaller intra-couple disparities than systems relying heavily on earnings-related and private pension pillars. Strengthening individual pension rights and supporting continuous employment for women—through childcare provision, equitable parental leave, and inclusive pension rules—is essential to ensuring financial security for both partners in retirement.

AB - Significant pension and wealth gaps persist within retired couples, particularly in West Germany, where gendered employment trajectories translate into markedly lower individual resources for women. Institutional design matters: countries with dual-earner employment models and more universal public pensions show much smaller intra-couple disparities than systems relying heavily on earnings-related and private pension pillars. Strengthening individual pension rights and supporting continuous employment for women—through childcare provision, equitable parental leave, and inclusive pension rules—is essential to ensuring financial security for both partners in retirement.

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PB - LIS (Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg)

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ER -

Behind Closed Doors: Intra-Couple Pension and Wealth Gaps in Germany and Beyond

Abstract

Publication series

Access to Document

Other files and links

(LIS)²ER: (LIS)²ER Initiative

Cite this

Behind Closed Doors: Intra-Couple Pension and Wealth Gaps in Germany and Beyond

Abstract

Publication series

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

(LIS)²ER: (LIS)²ER Initiative

Cite this