This survey shows tables with information updated to December 2015, for a set of OECD member and non-members countries:

1. Limits on the investment of the pension funds in selected local asset categories.
2. Limits on the investment of the pension funds in selected foreign asset categories.
3. Limits on the investment of pension funds in a single issue/issuer, by asset category.
4. Other regulations governing quantitative investment of pension fund assets.
5. Main changes to the regulations governing the investment of the pension funds between 2012 and 2015.

The information covers all types of pension funds (defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans, occupacional, mandatory, voluntary plans, etc.).

The results show mainly the following, among other aspects:

1. Most countries have quantitative limits on the investment of the pension funds at the end of 2015. Only 8 countries imposed no limits on the investments of the pension funds by asset class: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Malawi.
2. Equity investments, especially in shares not listed on the stock exchange, are limited in most countries that regulate the investment of the pension funds. There is a maximum limit in shares in 21 OECD countries and 31 non-OECD countries included in the survey.
3. Countries governing the investment of the pension funds in bonds, have less stringent limits for government bonds than for other types of bonds.
4. Most of the countries surveyed impose limits or completely prohibit investment in real estate and private investment funds. Direct investment in real estate is banned in Chile, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, Albania, Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Macedonia, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Lithuania, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Romania and Thailand.
5. The legislation governing the regulation of the investment of the pension funds also includes specific rules on investment abroad, and even forbids pension funds investing abroad in a few non-OECD countries (the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Nigeria, and Tanzania). Foreign investment is also only allowed in selected geographical areas, such as the OECD, the regulated markets of the EU or the European Economic Area.
6. Over time, most of the legislative changes in pension fund investment regulations have led to reducing investment limits and allowing more discretion to the pension funds.

This survey shows tables with information updated to December 2015, for a set of OECD member and non-members countries:

1. Limits on the investment of the pension funds in selected local asset categories.
2. Limits on the investment of the pension funds in selected foreign asset categories.
3. Limits on the investment of pension funds in a single issue/issuer, by asset category.
4. Other regulations governing quantitative investment of pension fund assets.
5. Main changes to the regulations governing the investment of the pension funds between 2012 and 2015.

The information covers all types of pension funds (defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans, occupacional, mandatory, voluntary plans, etc.).

The results show mainly the following, among other aspects:

1. Most countries have quantitative limits on the investment of the pension funds at the end of 2015. Only 8 countries imposed no limits on the investments of the pension funds by asset class: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Malawi.
2. Equity investments, especially in shares not listed on the stock exchange, are limited in most countries that regulate the investment of the pension funds. There is a maximum limit in shares in 21 OECD countries and 31 non-OECD countries included in the survey.
3. Countries governing the investment of the pension funds in bonds, have less stringent limits for government bonds than for other types of bonds.
4. Most of the countries surveyed impose limits or completely prohibit investment in real estate and private investment funds. Direct investment in real estate is banned in Chile, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, Albania, Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Macedonia, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Lithuania, Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Romania and Thailand.
5. The legislation governing the regulation of the investment of the pension funds also includes specific rules on investment abroad, and even forbids pension funds investing abroad in a few non-OECD countries (the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Nigeria, and Tanzania). Foreign investment is also only allowed in selected geographical areas, such as the OECD, the regulated markets of the EU or the European Economic Area.
6. Over time, most of the legislative changes in pension fund investment regulations have led to reducing investment limits and allowing more discretion to the pension funds.