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ECONOMIC SECURITY
The Public Policy Institute's Economics Team analyzes and develops policies related to the economy and its impact on financial security, particularly security in retirement.
Click below for reports on major economic security topics. Use the PPI search box on the right for a more precise search.
Pensions and Retirement Saving
Featured
Two Million Older Workers Unemployed
The employment situation for older workers showed little improvement in April, with older jobseekers unemployed for an average of 60 weeks. read
Social Security: A Brief Overview
Key facts on Social Security coverage, benefits and financing—and a look at future prospects for the program. read
Social Security: A Key Resource for Women
Social Security is particularly helpful for women who have lower lifetime earnings and, on average, tend to live longer than men. The program currently keeps almost 38 percent of older women out of poverty. read
Social Security: Who's Counting on It?
What long-term solvency of Social Security means for older Americans in general and specifically for women and minorities. read
The Case for the Auto IRA
New research from economists at the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute shows adopting the Auto IRA would greatly expand retirement savings opportunities for an estimated one-quarter of the US workforce. read
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage of Older Americans, 2010
A look at distributions of income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in 2010. An AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Ke Bin Wu. read
50+ and Worried
This report by Sara Rix highlights growing concerns about current and future financial well-being. read
How Social Security Fights Poverty: State-Level View
Numbers of older Americans by state who would be in poverty without Social Security. read
How Older Americans Rely on Social Security: State-Level View
The numbers of older Americans in each state relying on Social Security for much of their total family income. read
How Many Older Americans Live: Ten Facts to Consider
This AARP Public Policy Institute fact sheet by Gary Koenig and Lina Walker provides ten statistics to describe the economic security of persons age 65 and older. read
Recovering from the Great Recession: Long Struggle Ahead for Older Americans
The recent recession has caused high unemployment, loss of income and savings, and lower home values. Four in ten of older Americans surveyed expect a lower standard of living in retirement than that of their parents. An Insight on the Issues report by Sara E. Rix read
Family Income Sources for Older Persons, 2009
This report by Ke Bin Wu finds that older persons with low family income depend heavily on Social Security and shows that earnings have become increasingly more important for the older population. read
Employment Trends for Americans 50 Plus
A video interview with PPI senior strategic policy advisor Sara Rix, who discusses the difficulties older workers continue to face in the job market. Watch
Impact of Modernizing the American Poverty Measure on the Poverty Status of Older Persons
The Supplemental Poverty Measure provides significant opportunities to generate a new official poverty measure. read
Social Security and the Future of Retirement
Leading economic experts discuss the future of retirement security in America. read
Social Security: A Key Retirement Income Source for Minorities
Older Americans reliance on Social Security by race, ethnicity, gender, and nativity. read
Saving Jobs Through Work Sharing
Some states are adopting a new approach to help workers keep their jobs and health benefits in an economic downturn. read
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage of Older Americans, 2008
According to a new PPI Fact Sheet by Ke Bin Wu of the AARP Public Policy Institute, median income declined significantly in 2008. read
Annuities and Other Lifetime Income Products: Their Current and Future Role in Retirement Security
This AARP Public Policy Institute fact sheet by Sandy Mackenzie and other AARP staff. read
Older Americans in Poverty: A Snapshot
This report examines the persistent problem of elderly poverty in the United States. read
Social Security: Who’s Counting on It?
The latest data on the critical role Social Security plays in securing the income of many Americans. read
Hybrids and Other Alternatives to the Traditional Pension
This PPI research report by Sandy Mackenzie argues that the eclipse of the traditional pension and the dominance of the 401(k) plan threaten the financial security of older Americans. Alternative instruments like the cash balance plan and two relatively new enhancements to the 401(k) plan can potentially mitigate its shortcomings. read
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