Belgium is not prepared for ageing. There is no need to panic, however, appropriate immediate action is essential. The red book about pensions evaluates the situation and the evolution of the pensions, and recommends a plan to maintain our pension scheme.

In the context of globalisation and ageing, everybody agrees that short term measures have no future. Since 1960 the average pension length has gone from 8 to more than 20 years. It is expected that in the coming 40 years there will be tree times less actives for every pensioner.

Marc De Vos and Koen De Leus analyze the interaction between the development of pension saving and ageing for Belgium. Second pillar retirement saving is necessary but does not solve the acute social shortcomings of the Belgian pension landscape.