Lik

2.2萬美金一年﹐四個人用每人每月$458, 即係唔夠3600港幣﹐仲低過香港既標準!
soli 發表於 2009-10-21 16:25

多狗餘:

http://inews.mingpao.com/htm/inews/20091022/gb41012a.htm

香港貧富懸殊全球最嚴重 (10:11)

美國《商業周刊》引述聯合國開發組織的報告稱，本港在已發展經濟體系中，反映貧富差距的堅尼系數最高。

報道指出，香港的堅尼系數達到43.4，排第2位的新加坡為42.5，美國排第3。堅尼指數是用來量度社會貧富差距，0為絕對公平，100則為絕對貧富懸殊。

報告指出，由於本港擁有擁有大量富豪，但工人沒有最低工底保障，令貧富差距拉闊。報告亦稱，本港逾半人口居住在貧窮的公共屋鸷。

而根據美國福布斯雜誌的調查，本港有19名億萬美元富豪，而新加坡則只有2名。

根據有關報告，以色列的堅尼系數是全球第4高，第5位為葡萄牙，第6為新西蘭，第7為意大利及英國，第9為澳洲，第10則分別是愛爾蘭及希臘。

而且唔好忘記，依家 Obama 就極力搞緊醫療改革，目的係為咗更多貧窮嘅美國人可以得到醫療保障。

但燈膽權呢？強績金同之前想推嘅強醫金其實都係搵笨，只係變相益晒啲基金，但數就要香港人咩。

-力

Lik

How is that different from 401(k) and HSA
快樂牛郎 發表於 2009-10-21 22:55

Biggest difference is, compared to HK, US has a much higher tax rate, and both 401k and HSA are registered tax shelters, thereby providing both instant and longer term financial incentives to the plan contributer. Furthermore, Americans can choose to opt out of either plan if they wish.

I'm not 100% certain on this, but I think in Hong Kong, both 強績金 and the proposed (but failed) 強醫金 are mandatory. Furthermore, since most people do not end up paying any income tax anyway, 強績金 and 強醫金 don't offer any tax incentives to the contributor. In fact, by taking the money away from the worker now, the funds are actually hurting the current financial status of the worker.

For 強績金, I think the sum of money is either inaccessible until the contributor turns 65, or extremely difficult to dip your hands into. With 401k, I think you just pay for the tax penalty if you want to retrieve the $$. (But I am not 100% certain on this.) Withdrawing funds form HSA for medical purposes does not incur any penalty. I don't remember the accessibility rules for the 強醫金 proposal, but I think the funds are inaccessible until 65 as well.

At any rate, the biggest differences are the tax shelter incentive and the optional aspect of the plan.

-Lik

Lik

I am not even gonna bother replying to idiotic posts. Think a little before you spew your crap la.

-Lik

Lik

How is that different from 401(k) and HSA
快樂牛郎 發表於 2009-10-21 22:55

I should add that from an employee's perspective, 401k's are generally inferior to a defined pension plan. Studies have shown that for most recent-ish retirees (those retired in the last 10 years), they will almost always be better off (receive higher payment amounts) in their retirement if they a defined pension plan instead of a mere 401k.

Of course, to the employer, proper pension plans are a lot more expensive than 401k's. So in the interest of their balance sheets, 401k's are a lot more attractive than pensions.

-Lik

Lik

That's only if you set your pension benefits at unsustainable levels.
Money doesn't come from nowhere.

Defined benefits is history.  It's a crime to even mention it.
快樂牛郎 發表於 2009-10-22 00:25

Not true. Take a look at this TIME magazine article here:

http://tinyurl.com/ye3xdtk

I've read other articles panning 401k's before as well.

Defined pension plans are the gold standard of all pension plans, and they are perfectly good and alive here in Canada. I think most/all public sector employees in BC and Ontario at least are covered by similar defined pension plans.

-Lik

Lik

IIRC, the public sector defined pension plans (not CPP) are required by law/their own policies to set aside some huge sum of $$ to ensure the paying off of the retirees, and the investment of that sum is quite conservative, meaning that it won't suffer any huge losses. In fact, even at the height of the financial crisis, I don't think the this fund lost any money at all -- it's just that the gain was something minuscule like 1 to 4%.

Additionally, not all pension plans have inflation adjustments -- some do, but some only have partial ones, and some have none. . And then you have the current generation of contributors to pay into the plan, as well as the ability for the pension company to increase contribution amounts when the need arises, so the feasibility is not that bad ge.

-Lik

Lik

貧富懸殊 is a good thing
it keeps people motivated
快樂牛郎 發表於 2009-10-23 21:14

站於疑點歸於被告嘅大前題之下，我暫且當你係響道玩嘲諷（雖然我絕對覺得你毫無此意）。如果唔係嘅話，我阿力一定口誅筆伐，小到你體無完膚！

-力