With birth rates falling at the same time that average age is rising in the developed world, the pensions time bomb is ticking louder than ever. Understanding how pensions work, their history, and their future is absolutely essential.This book thoroughly explains to readers the unique concepts and terminology which underpin pensions. Focusing firstly on the rationale for pensions and their evolution, before moving on to an explanation of the latest controversies regarding pensions. The glossary of pensions terminology in the final section of the book virtually ensures its place on many academic bookshelves. This timely volume is an extremely useful contribution to this important issue. Of use to policy-makers as much as to students and academics of finance and public policy, Understanding Pensions should prove to be a popular addition to the literature.