Seminar: "Are Pensions Dependent on GDP Growth?", by David Palomera

The REAL-Postgrowth project (Post-growth – REAL – A Post-Growth Deal) is excited to announce that David Palomera, from the University of Southern Denmark, will present a public talk as part of our monthly public seminar series.

Seminar: "Are Pensions Dependent on GDP Growth? An Empirical Analysis of Public Pension Spending and Generosity in the OECD"

Speaker: David Palomera, MSCA postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern Denmark

• Date: Thursday, Februay 12th, 2026
• Time:  11 -12h (CET)
• Venue: Sala Montseny (Z/022 & Z/023) ICTA-UAB and online https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84512964642?pwd=2bL5CSAjCkvqGvGxT0nyb7KGExO4Xu.1

The presentation will discuss the results of an empirical and historical analysis of the relationship between economic growth and welfare state arrangements, focusing on public pensions across 20 OECD countries from 1971 to 2022. The findings indicate that, historically, pension benefits have partially decoupled from GDP growth, while labor market outcomes appear to play a greater role in maintaining adequate pension levels. The presentation will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the role of pensions in post-growth and socio-ecological transformation scenarios.

David Palomera is an MSCA postdoctoral fellow at the University of Southern Denmark, working on the project "Transitioning to Post-Growth Welfare State" (TRANSPOSE). His research specifically explores the coupling between pension systems, economic growth and carbon footprints. Drawing on his background in political economy and public policy, David integrates insights from ecological economics and post-growth to contribute to the development of sustainable approaches to welfare state transformation.