AARP: Policy and Research Information for Professionals in Aging

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Economic Trends

The Economic Slowdown's Impact on Middle-Aged and Older Americans  / Research Report
May 2008— AARP commissioned a nationwide survey to determine how people age 45 and older are responding to the current economic slowdown. The survey asked respondents for their assessments of the economy’s condition, whether they have taken actions in response to the changing economy, and if they felt enough was being done to address economic problems. This executive summary, by Jeffrey Love, reveals that a majority of those 45 or older believe the economy is in bad shape and that many have adapted their behaviors in response to the floundering economy. (31 pages)

In Brief: Boomers at the Bottom: How Will Low-Income Boomers Cope with Retirement?  / Research Report
March 2008— Wealth accumulation, poverty levels, net worth, and income replacement rates at age 67 for low-income boomers are projected and compared with those of low-income retirees from other birth cohorts in this brief synopsis of a report written for the AARP Public Policy Institute by Barbara A. Butrica, Eric J. Toder, and Desmond J. Toohey of The Urban Institute. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB158)

Boomers at the Bottom: How Will Low-Income Boomers Cope with Retirement?  / Research Report
March 2008— Wealth accumulation, poverty levels, net worth, and income replacement rates at age 67 for low-income boomers are projected and compared with those of low-income retirees from other birth cohorts in this AARP Public Policy Institute publication by Barbara A. Butrica, Eric J. Toder, and Desmond J. Toohey of The Urban Institute. (98 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-07)

Preparing for Their Future: A Look at the Financial State of Gen X and Gen Y  / Research Report
March 2008— To profile and better understand Generation X and Generation Y’s current and future financial situation, the American Savings Education Council (ASEC) and AARP (on behalf of Divided We Fail) commissioned this January 2008 online survey of 1,752 Americans ages 19-39. The report addresses financial behavior, financial goals, and financial literacy as well as perceptions of differences with older generations and views about workplace benefits. (59 pages)

Divided We Fail - Key Findings in the States  / Research Report
February 2008— These fact sheets were created to provide specific context around the two key Divided We Fail (DWF) platform principles: 1) All Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care; and 2) All Americans should have peace of mind about their future long-term financial security. All the facts presented in these sheets derive from publicly available sources such as government statistics and public opinion research. Source information is provided at the end of each document.

Should Older Americans Be Included in The Stimulus Package? Attitudes of Likely Voters  / Research Report
February 2008— An overwhelming majority of likely voters ages 18+ (90%) believe it is important for the government to ensure that older Americans and others who rely primarily on Social Security are eligible to receive rebates provided to other Americans. However, the voters are divided on whether a rebate plan will effectively stimulate the economy. (10 pages)

The State of 50+ America 2007  / Research Report
January 2007— AARP’s fourth annual “report card” on the quality of life of age 50+ Americans finds them somewhat better off now than a few years ago, but there is still much room for improvement. The report examines changes in various economic, health, social and lifestyle indicators over the most recent year, as well as multi-year periods. (60 pages) (Publication ID: D18779)

In Brief: Population Aging, Entitlement Growth, and the Economy  / Research Report
January 2007— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which John Gist examines the fiscal effects of America’s demographic transformation, whether the U.S. can afford its aging society, and what can be done to sustain the economic security of an aging population while maintaining a healthy economy. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB135)

Population Aging, Entitlement Growth, and the Economy  / Research Report
January 2007— The “graying” of America has alarmed many experts who foresee the future cost of federal health and retirement programs creating huge federal deficits and jeopardizing long-term economic growth. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, John Gist examines what can be done to sustain the economic security of our aging population while maintaining a healthy economy. (64 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-01)

Business Executives’ Attitudes Toward the Aging Workforce: Aware But Not Prepared?  / Research Report
October 2006— While most of the 1,055 business executives surveyed by AARP during July 2006 know that their companies may be – or already are – affected by the aging of the workforce, few say their organizations are preparing for boomer retirements while 59 percent believe their firms should be thinking about how to retain older workers. (28 pages)

Losing Ground: Has The Economic Expansion Helped Or Hurt Older Americans?  / Research Report
September 2006— The recent economic recovery has been the least robust of any since World War Two, and has resulted in lower real incomes and greater income inequality for Americans age 50 and older, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist. (7 pages) (Publication ID: DD147)

The State of 50+ America 2006  / Research Report
January 2006— While the overall quality of life of Americans age 50 and older has improved over the past decade, AARP’s third annual “report card” on the status of their economic, health and social well-being finds that their situation has become less favorable during the most recent year. (52 pages) (Publication ID: D18469)

An Update on the Experimental Consumer Price Index (CPI-E) for Older Americans  / Research Report
December 2005— Would the Social Security COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) adjustments be higher if they were linked to the Experimental Consumer Price Index (CPI-E)? Yes, but the CPI-E does not represent all Social Security recipients. In this Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Satyendra Verma compares the CPI-E, the CPI-W (the current COLA index) and the CPI-U. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD132)

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 2004 Annual Report: An Agency Facing Financial Challenges  / Research Report
June 2005— Some 44 million workers and retirees in 31,000 private defined benefit pension plans count on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to protect their pensions. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, John Turner reviews the agency’s 2004 Annual Report and finds that the PBGC is facing the most significant financial challenges it has confronted in more than a decade. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS117)

Entitlement Spending and the Economy: Past Trends and Future Projections  / Research Report
September 2002— Long-term economic forecasts project exploding government debt due to entitlement spending combined with the aging of the population. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, John Gist and Satyendra Verma take a fresh look at some old assertions about federal budget entitlements, and conclude that demography will not determine future economic outcomes. (36 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-13)

Inflation Protection and Long-Term Care Insurance: Finding the Gold Standard of Adequacy  / Research Report
August 2002— When individuals are purchasing protection against rising costs in order to insure the future adequacy of their long-term care insurance policies, how much is enough? The question is addressed and answered in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Marc A. Cohen, Maurice Weinrobe and Jessica Miller. (37 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-09)

Deeper In Debt: Trends Among Midlife and Older Americans  / Research Report
April 2002— Despite the 1990s' robust economic growth, personal debt for households headed by people age 50 and older increased substantially between 1989 and 1998, mainly in the area of housing. An AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist and Carlos Figueiredo. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD70)

What the Economy Holds After September 11: A Brief Note on Near-Term Economic Recovery  / Research Report
February 2002— The broad impact of fiscal and monetary stimulus on the American economy's recovery from the impact of terrorist attack is analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Satyendra Verma. (2 pages) (Publication ID: DD67)

Beyond 50: A View of Economic Security in the States  / Research Report
February 2002— Detailed statistics for the age 50+ population in each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, are analyzed by Sunhwa Lee, Ph.D. and Lois Shaw, Ph.D. of the Institute for Women's Policy Research in this AARP Public Policy Institute supplement to AARP's 2001 study, 'Beyond 50: A Report to the Nation on Economic Security.' (21 pages)

Beyond 50: A Report to the Nation on Economic Security  / Research Report
May 2001— Appraising past assumptions and identifying new trends and areas of concern, this AARP report provides a definitive picture of the economic status and well-being of the approximately 76 million age 50 and older people in the United States. (Publication ID: D17389)

Concurrent Changes In The CPI As A Measure Of Inflation  / Research Report
December 2000— To maintain its accuracy, the criteria used to adjust the Consumer Price Index are revised regularly. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, econometrician Satyendra Verma analyzes the nature of the changes and their impact. (2 pages) (Publication ID: DD51)

The Declining Personal Saving Rate: Is There Cause for Alarm?  / Research Report
March 2000— Two different definitions of the personal saving rate commonly used by analysts – one based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) National Income and Product Account (NIPA), and the other on the Federal Reserve’s Flow of Funds Account (FOFA) – is discussed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Satyendra Verma and Jules Lichtenstein. (21 pages) (Publication ID: IB42)

Boomers Approaching Midlife: How Secure a Future?  / Research Report
May 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute chartbook represents an assessment of the future economic prospects of boomers. (62 pages) (Publication ID: D16687)