Rich or Poor in Retirement? A Small Area Analysis of Australian Private Superannuation Savings in 2006 Using Spatial Microsimulation

Abstract

Vidyattama Y., Cassells R., Harding A. and McNamara J. Rich or poor in retirement? A small area analysis of Australian private superannuation savings in 2006 using spatial microsimulation, Regional Studies . Substantial differences in retirement savings exist among Australians. Little is known, however, about how these patterns play out at a small area level, partly due to an absence of available data about wealth holdings at a small area level. This paper uses spatial microsimulation techniques to produce estimates of superannuation savings for Australian men and women who in 2006 were aged between forty-five and sixty years at a Statistical Local Area (SLA) level. The findings show substantial differences between Australia's small areas in terms of both superannuation ownership and median balances.