Prestigious government assignment for JU researcher – to improve the pension system
The Pension Group, which includes all parties in the Swedish Parliament, has agreed that the basic protection in the public pension system needs to be reviewed. Johannes Hagen, Associate Professor of Economics at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) at Jönköping University (JU), has been appointed to lead the working group.
“Basic protection affects around one and a half million pensioners in one way or another. Many people think that the current system is too complicated and therefore needs to be simpler and more efficient,” says Johannes Hagen.
The public pension system includes basic protection aimed at providing financial security for people with low or no income-based pensions. The basis of basic protection is the guaranteed pension, but in addition to this there are four other tax-financed benefits aimed at supplementing an insufficient income-based pension. These are housing supplements, special housing supplements, elderly support and income pension supplements.
A two-stage review
The benefits have been introduced at different times and for different purposes. This makes the basic protection system complex and often difficult to understand.
The working group appointed by the government will now draw up proposals for directives for a forthcoming government inquiry. The analysis will focus in particular on identifying systemic problems, the risk of benefit fraud and any counterproductive effects between the various benefits.
In addition, the importance of basic protection for gender equality in pensions will be highlighted, in line with the Pension Group's previous agreements.
“What we are now beginning is preparatory work to reform basic protection in the pension system. We will analyze the problems that exist in the current system and develop goals and proposals for the direction of a new basic protection,” says Johannes Hagen.
A simpler and more efficient system
Once the preparatory work is complete, a government inquiry will be appointed. This inquiry will develop one or more concrete proposals on how a reformed basic protection can be designed.
"The biggest challenge here will be to define goals, objectives and a direction that all parties agree on,” says Johannes Hagen.
The working group will submit its final report by 15 June 2026.
The working group to be led by Johannes Hagen includes several civil servants. The secretary for the group will be Hannes Nilsson, head of the Swedish Pensions Agency's analysis department, who has extensive experience in pension analysis.
"The pension system is there for pensioners. It is therefore of the utmost importance that it is understandable and effective. I am delighted that Johannes Hagen and Hannes Nilsson are taking on this complex but important task," says Minister for the Elderly and Social Security Anna Tenje, chair of the Pension Group.
