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We examine voluntary private pension funds and their relationship to capital market development. Using data from Turkey, we analyse depth, efficiency and liquidity indicators of capital markets after the introduction of voluntary private pension funds in 2003. Overall, our findings indicate that the introduction of voluntary private pension plans are positively associated with indicators of capital market development, focusing on market depth (such as market capitalisation and trading volume) in both debt and equity markets. We also observe that indicators for other more recently established markets are also positively associated with the introduction of voluntary pension plans. In contrast, equity market turnover shows a negative association. These findings, along with the positive association with the corporate governance index, suggest that pension funds are important for capital market development and for corporate governance of firms as they are long-term investors. However, the introduction of state contributions in 2013 is not robust to alternative specifications.

We provide an overview of the voluntary pension fund market in Turkey by starting with recent developments in the global pension markets and then focusing on the pension fund reform in Turkey and the following developments since 2003. Findings from the literature indicate that the reforms on the introduction of voluntary pension funds in Turkey have positive implications for the overall national savings rates and capital market development. Voluntary pension funds create extra income for beneficiaries after their retirement. However, redesigning the system in a simplified structure is necessary in order to increase participation, inclusion and also to ensure persistency.

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