In this paper, the UK pension system is analysed, highlighting its position as the third largest globally in terms of total assets but facing significant challenges compared to other countries. The paper explores the system’s reliance on defined benefit schemes, higher exposure to bonds, and relatively low investment in the UK economy. It also identifies key issues such as low workplace pension contributions, the insufficiency of state pensions, an aging population, and fragmented funds. Solutions tested in other geographies are proposed, including pension fund consolidation, increasing state pensions, and enhancing minimum contributions.

In this paper, we present a novel idea to address issues faced by pension systems in developing and emerging economies: direct funding of pensions through international aid. In our system, aid from domestic and international donors would be used to finance matching contributions, thereby increasing the capital saved for retirement and simultaneously incentivising individuals to save. Furthermore, aid would directly arrive in a worker’s retirement savings account without passing through government budgets, allowing for strong transparency and the ability to “follow the money” by both donors and recipients. We believe that this idea addresses some of the key shortcomings of past pension policies, as well as protects pension savings from changing government priorities.

This new paper is a revision from a previous publication from the Coller Pensions Institute in November 2023.

In this paper, we consider the long-term consequences of the Green Revolution, which was set in motion after World War II to address issues around resource scarcity and hunger. We accept the Green Revolution began with the best intentions and initially achieved its objectives, but we argue that its unforeseen negative impacts have been substantial. The long-term consequences have included the crucial role of enhanced crop yields in fuelling factory farming’s rise amid unhealthy higher global demand for meat and dairy products. The now-dominant factory farming sector is today directly linked to climate change, highly resistant pathogens and other existential threats facing the planet and its inhabitants.

Alfred Nobel, explosives manufacturer, created the famous peace prize after reading his obituary, mistakenly published following the death of his brother. Jeremy Coller’s friend who was aware of Nobel’s story decided to write two versions of Jeremy’s own obituary. He had a lightbulb moment to focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and factory farming – switching from being a bystander to an upstander.