It also relates to whether benefits are flat rate, earnings-related or actuarial, or a combination of those models. Third, the link between benefits, contributions and earnings is also associated with whether benefits keep track with earnings/prices in the retirement period (i.e., the rules for indexation) and whether life expectancies are taken into consideration for the calculation of benefits. All of these features define the distribution of benefits among individuals based on their individual lifecourses (including labour market participation, earnings and life expectancy).