As part of the preparatory work for the Actuarial Report of the Quebec Pension Plan as at 31 December 2009, actuaries at the Régie des rentes du Québec (Quebec Pensions Board) carried out a study comparing assumptions and projections used for the Québec scheme with those of social security schemes in thirteen countries. This comparative analysis is based on a survey conducted by the Régie with the support of the International Social Security Association. Those responsible for actuarial valuation of social security schemes in these countries (Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America) replied to a specially designed questionnaire. The comparison is based on the information they provided. Generally speaking, this information did not take the financial crisis of 2008 into account.

This report provides a summary of the data collected in the survey and a comparative analysis of the assumptions and projections. It is divided into two chapters. The first chapter discusses future demographic changes in the countries under review. The second compares projections concerning active population, participation in the labour force (particularly workers aged between 55 and 64), retirement age and other economic and financial variables for the various countries. Finally, the questionnaire used in the study is included as Annex A and a summary of the replies is attached as Annex B.