John Scott directs Pew’s retirement savings project, which conducts original research and works with experts and policymakers to understand the barriers to retirement savings in the United States; policy initiatives that might increase retirement savings; and whether strengthening the disclosure of fees can help employers and employees make better decisions about retirement plans.
Before joining Pew, Scott taught and conducted research on public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a focus on issues related to aging, tax policy, and the policymaking process. Scott also worked in advocacy on retirement and compensation issues in Washington. He began his career as a tax attorney and consultant in the financial services industry with a focus on pension plan design and legal compliance.
Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Swarthmore College, a master’s in sociology from the University of Maryland, a law degree from Pennsylvania State University, and a doctorate in sociology from Cornell University.