Preventing financial vulnerability during retirement

Professor Adele Atkinson and Dr Louise Overton have recently been appointed as Netspar Fellows and commenced a new international research collaboration with Leiden University, funded by Netspar (Network for Studies on Pensions, Ageing and Retirement). This three-year project brings together experts from CHASM, Leiden University, Utrecht University, and Bamberg University, as well as representatives from other sectors, under the leadership of Dr Olaf Simonse.

The research aims to identify how combinations of life-course risk factors contribute to financial vulnerability in later life and to develop strategies to enhance financial resilience among at-risk populations. Moving beyond traditional metrics such as replacement rates, the study will incorporate a broader set of indicators, including expenditure patterns, subjective well-being, financial stress, and personal resilience.

Key life-course elements under investigation include education, employment history, family circumstances, housing tenure, health, and social capital. Special attention is being given to groups that are often more vulnerable in retirement, such as women, migrants, and the self-employed.

By integrating both quantitative and qualitative research methods alongside intervention design, the project aims to deliver evidence-based, targeted policy recommendations. The team is also engaging with policymakers and the creative sector to ensure the development of innovative and practical solutions that can be effectively implemented.