RESEARCH AREAS

Retirement and Social Security Issues

AEI's program on retirement and Social Security evaluates issues presented by the aging of the U.S. population, pension protection and the economics of retirement, the adequacy of household savings, the financial problems of the Social Security system, and major Social Security reform proposals. This section of the website gathers together AEI research, books, and events focused on Social Security and pensions.

Public Pension Deficits

iStockphoto/
Kenneth Mellott

AEI's Andrew G. Biggs, the former principal deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration, has been writing about shortfalls in public pension accounts. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, he writes that shortfalls are underestimated, with actual underfunding of more than $3 trillion. In another article, he examines the books in New Jersey and finds that taxpayers are in for a shock when the pension bill comes due. A new AEI working paper by Biggs presents an alternate approach to market valuation of public pension liabilities.

Scholars on Retirement
and Social Security Issues

Recent Publications

Lifetime Income Options

By Alex J. Pollock
U.S. Department of Labor
Thursday, April 22, 2010

Alex J. Pollock makes several considerations and suggestions on how to properly use annuities in retirement finance.

Why Immigration Can't Save Social Security

By Andrew G. Biggs
The American
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The logic of saving Social Security through immigration, which makes sense at first glance, falls apart when you inspect the details.

The Market Value of Public-Sector Pension Deficits

By Andrew G. Biggs
AEI Online
Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Current state pension accounting practices are inaccurate and outmoded; a more accurate accounting demonstrates that state pension funds are underfunded by more than six times the amount the plans report.

Reduce Benefits for Higher Earners

By Andrew G. Biggs
New York Times Room for Debate
Thursday, March 25, 2010

Social Security's mission remains constant but its structure must change with the times.

» List all Recent Publications

Books

Global Population Aging and Its Economic Consequences

By Ronald D. Lee
AEI Press
(May 2007)

This book explains how the risks of global aging can be contained with a combination of foresight and prudent public policy.

In Our Hands A Plan to Replace the Welfare State

By Charles Murray
AEI Press
(March 2006)

This book reveals the ineffectiveness of government redistribution plans and offers a radical new approach to social policy.

Income Redistribution from Social Security

By Brent D. Mast , Don Fullerton
AEI Press
(January 2005)

The authors assess the importance of knowing as much as possible about how the current Social Security system redistributes money in practice and to whom.

» List all Books

Events

PAST EVENTS

Investing for Retirement: Are Life-Cycle Funds Worthwhile?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM

This event will discuss life-cycle funds and their role the management of retirement funds.

Keeping Granny on the Job: Pension Reform and Labor Force Participation in the United States and Chile

Friday, November 13, 2009
12:15 PM - 02:00 PM

At this AEI conference, AEI resident scholar Andrew G. Biggs will discuss research on Social Security's incentives to delay retirement, while Estelle James, a pension consultant and former World Bank economist, will present findings on how Chile's 1980 pension reform affected labor force participation by seniors.

The Case for Simplifying Social Security Benefits

Thursday, August 6, 2009
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM

At this event, AEI resident scholar Andrew Biggs will address members of the Savings and Retirement Forum about the present system and propose reforms that could create a more transparent and effective retirement program.

» List all Past Events

Scholars on Retirement and Social Security Issues

Scholars on Retirement
and Social Security Issues