IPE: NAPF says solvency standards driving pension funds into short-termism

16 September 2011

Lindsay Tomlinson, chairman of the UK's National Association of Pension Funds, argued that pension funds are being forced to adopt the mindset of short-term investors by solvency regulation and accounting standards.

Mr Tomlinson highlighted that, while institutional investors ideally invest over a longer time horizon, in practice, this stance was made problematic by the regulatory burden placed upon them. He argued that it made little sense to berate short-termism "without thinking about the pressures that are applied to long-term investors", such as life assurance companies and pension schemes – referencing both accounting standards and solvency regulations.

"We built an investment system in which many people collect substantial rewards for stimulating short-term behaviour", he said. "You can't create a system of this sort and then complain when that stimulus works – so don't just look at the investors, look also at the investment banks and the other players in the chain."

Full article (IPE subscription needed)


© IPE International Publishers Ltd.