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Boomers

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Staying Ahead of the Curve 2007: The AARP Work and Career Study  / Research Report
October 2008— This update of a 2002 AARP national survey examining older workers’ experiences, opinions, and expectations presents examples of workforce practices implemented to address the needs of an aging workforce. It will help employers position their organization to prepare for the significant demographic changes expected over the next decade and beyond. (175 pages) (Publication ID: D19049)

In Brief: How Is the Age Discrimination in Employment Act Working? A Look Back and Into the Future  / Research Report
June 2008— This brief synopsis of the AARP Public Policy Institute report, Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, written by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine, assesses the success of the 1967 ADEA and the challenges that lie ahead for older adults who want to work. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB159)

Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act  / Research Report
June 2008— This review of the existing research on age discrimination in employment assesses how successful the 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) has been in achieving its goals. While hiring enforcement has lagged behind termination enforcement under the ADEA, it will become more important as baby boomers seek post-retirement employment, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute report by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine. (53 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-09)

Generations of Struggle  / Research Report
June 2008— The average age for filing bankruptcy has increased, and the rate of bankruptcy filings among those ages 65 and older has more than doubled since 1991, according to this Public Policy Institute paper by Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren and Teresa A. Sullivan. (16 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-11)

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)

Who is Ready for Retirement, How Ready, and How Can We Know?  / Research Report
January 2008— Although at least half of baby boomers are on track to a comfortable retirement, substantial numbers are not. The gap between haves and have-nots is likely to be greater than in previous generations, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie Korczyk, which analyzes recent literature on retirement income adequacy with a focus on boomers. (43 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-01)

In Brief: Who is Ready for Retirement, How Ready, and How Can We Know?  / Research Report
January 2008— This short summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie Korczyk analyzes recent literature on retirement income adequacy, with a focus on boomers. Key findings reveal that, although at least half of baby boomers are on track to a comfortable retirement, substantial numbers are not. Furthermore, the gap between haves and have-nots is likely to be greater than in previous generations. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB154)

It's Good to Be Green: Socially Conscious Shopping Behaviors Among Boomers  / Research Report
December 2007— Who are the Green Boomers? Making up 54 percent of the boomer population, they are 40 million consumers who actually make the choice to buy environmentally safe brands. Released by AARP Services, Inc. and Focalyst, this executive summary of a recent report finds that Green Boomers are often more demanding of quality in the products and services they buy, more attuned to advertising, both positively and negatively, and exhibit higher brand loyalty than other boomers. (4 pages)

Are Americans Talking with Their Parents About Independent Living: A 2007 Study Among Boomer Women  / Research Report
November 2007— Most boomer women have had conversations with their parents about their ability to live independently as they get older, but less than half have actually begun planning for care their parents might need. Findings from this survey of women age 45+ suggest that significant opportunities exist for educating the public in this area. (10 pages)

The Sky's The Limit: Travel Trends Among The Baby Boom Generation & Beyond  / Research Report
June 2007— Travel is an important part of the lives of Baby Boomers and older adults. Half of Boomers and a third of older adults have a desire to travel and see the world. Released by AARP Services, Inc. and Focalyst, this executive summary of a recent report finds that over 81 million Boomers and older adults are planning to travel in the next year, and will spend a total of $126 billion on their next trip alone.

Sources of Income of People Age 50 to 64 with Work Disabilities  / Research Report
May 2007— Income sources for people age 50 to 64 unable to work due to disabilities or health conditions are analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Ke Bin Wu and Laurel Beedon. The report highlights the distribution of such individuals and of their major income sources by gender and race/ethnic group, (8 pages) (Publication ID: DD157)

Health Coverage among 50- to 64-Year-Olds  / Research Report
May 2007— These AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digests explore how Americans age 50-64 get health coverage, how coverage shifts with retirement, and characteristics of those who buy their own coverage or are uninsured.

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds in California  / Research Report
May 2007— Various characteristics of uninsured Californians age 50 to 64 are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Gerry Smolka, Leigh Purvis and Carlos Figueiredo. (6 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds in Wisconsin  / Research Report
May 2007— Various characteristics of uninsured Wisconsin residents age 50 to 64 are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute report by Gerry Smolka, Leigh Purvis and Carlos Figueiredo. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

FYI: Characteristics of Uninsured and Underinsured 50- to 64-Year-Olds  / Research Report
May 2007— These AARP Public Policy Institute papers provide a snapshot of the employment status, income, out-of-pocket health expenditures, health status, and health spending burdens of Americans age 50–64 who are uninsured or underinsured.

Boomer Wealth: Beware of the Median  / Research Report
September 2006— Reports suggesting that boomers have retirement savings of $50,000 or less underestimate the amounts that boomers have and are likely to have at retirement. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, John Gist finds that the oldest boomers have significantly more than younger boomers, and those closest to retirement still have several more years to work and accumulate assets. (6 pages) (Publication ID: DD143)

Retirement Plan Coverage of Boomers: Analysis of 2003 SIPP Data  / Research Report
August 2006— Retirement plan coverage of workers at their current jobs is analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data and Chart Book by Satyendra K. Verma which examines defined benefit, cash balance, and defined contribution pension plans. Also highlighted are retirement coverage from previous employment, lump-sum distributions, pension rollovers, and monthly pensions. (50 pages) (Publication ID: Chart Book)

Pension Lump-Sum Distributions: Do Boomers Take Them or Save Them?  / Research Report
August 2006— What boomers and pre-boomers (born before 1946) and older persons (born 1938 and earlier) do with non-retirement lump-sum distributions (LSDs) is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Satyendra Verma and Jules Lichtenstein. More than half do not roll their LSDs over into other plans or IRAs, but spend the funds, mostly to pay off debt. (14 pages) (Publication ID: DD144)

Boomers Turning 60  / Research Report
June 2006— With the first wave of the Baby Boom Generation turning 60 in 2006, this AARP telephone survey of 800 boomers born in 1946 explores their thoughts about the significance of reaching this milestone, and assesses their satisfaction with their lives up to now, personal goals and expectations for the future. (26 pages)

In Their Dreams: What Will Boomers Inherit?  / Research Report
June 2006— The occurrence and expectation of inheritances by the baby boomer cohort are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist and Carlos Figueiredo. While about one-fifth of boomer households have received inheritances, the study finds the inheritances are unlikely to have much impact on boomer retirement security. (10 pages) (Publication ID: DD139)

The Business Case for Workers Age 50+: Planning for Tomorrow's Talent Needs in Today's Competitive Environment  / Research Report
December 2005— U. S. companies face potential loss of experienced talent in a wide range of key roles as baby boomers approach traditional retirement age. This study, prepared for AARP by Towers Perrin, a global professional services firm, details the business case for hiring and retaining the 50+ worker as an effective solution to the projected challenge of rising competition for talent in the coming years. (28 pages)

2005 Travel & Adventure Report: A Snapshot of Boomers’ Travel & Adventure Experiences  / Research Report
October 2005— How do age 41 to 59 boomers’ travel experiences today compare with those of themselves 20 years ago? What are their favorite destinations? Do they consider themselves and their travel activities to be more or less adventurous than their parents? The answers are in this new AARP study of boomers on the move. (12 pages)

Comparing Boomers' and Their Elders' Wealth at Midlife  / Research Report
September 2005— How do boomers in 2001 compare financially with the same age group (37-55) in 1983? This AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist charts the comparative wealth (in adjusted dollars) of these two groups, reporting that the boomers surpass their predecessors somewhat in net worth and considerably in financial assets. (Publication ID: DD123)

Retirement Plan Coverage of Baby Boomers: Analysis of 1998 SIPP Data  / Research Report
August 2005— How does the retirement coverage of baby boomers compare with that of other groups? Based on 1998 data, a detailed analysis of the retirement coverage of boomers (age 33 to 52 in 1998) and other workers is graphically presented in this AARP Public Policy Institute chartbook by Satyendra K. Verma. (79 pages) (Publication ID: Chartbook)

Mother's Day Survey  / Research Report
May 2005— Annotated questionnaire from the AARP The Magazine survey in April 2005 of over 1,000 baby boomers in which 40 percent named their mother as their favorite parent, compared to only 20 percent saying the same of their father. (4 pages)

Boomers at Midlife 2004: The AARP Life Stage Study  / Research Report
November 2004— How boomers are doing at this point in their lives, whether their outlooks on life have changed over the past year or two and specific areas of their lives boomers want to improve are all explored in the third wave of this annual survey.

Eternal Youths: How the Baby Boomers are Having Their Time Again  / News Release
September 2004— AARP Global Aging Program Idea Exchange with Julia Huber of Demos, an independant social policy think tank in the UK

How Will the Boomers Fill the Political Shoes of Their Elders?  / Opinion
August 2004— Jeff Love, Director of Strategic Issues Research at AARP, discusses whether today's boomers will be as active as their parents in politics.

The New Old – How Baby Boomers are Redefining Retirement  / Opinion
July 2004— Julia Huber, Researcher at Demos, suggests the UK Boomers "will be different from current generations of older people and redefine the meaning of retirement."

The Distribution of Financial Wealth Among Boomers  / Research Report
July 2004— State and local governments will have to follow new accounting standards for their retiree health benefits. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Stan Wisniewski and Lorel Wisniewski of Workplace Economics, Inc. provides an overview of retiree health benefits for state-government workers (including state-level descriptions) and discusses the possible effects of the new standards. (105 pages) (Publication ID: DD99)

The Inequality of Financial Wealth Among Boomers  / Research Report
July 2004— The inequality of baby boomer wealth is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist and Ke Bin Wu. The report found that boomer wealth is more concentrated now than it was in the late 1980s. (8 pages) (Publication ID: DD100)

Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement  / Research Report
June 2004— The baby boomers' retirement could bring a new definition of the older years and a social legacy of profound importance through civic involvement. This report--by the Harvard School of Public Health-MetLife Foundation, including an AARP background paper, 'Enhancing Volunteerism Among Aging Baby Boomers'--discusses what it would take to make it happen. (162 pages)

Boomers Approaching Retirement: Aspirations and Realities  / News Release
May 2004— This symposium explores the attitudes of European and American boomers as they approach retirement.

Boomers Envisioning Retirement—How Will They Fare?  / News Release
May 2004— AARP and Harvard University’s Generations Policy Initiative Symposium explores European and American boomers’ situation.

Older Consumers: More Clout, More Confusion  / News Release
May 2004— AARP announces its fourth annual Beyond 50 report, “A Report to the Nation on Consumers in the Marketplace.”

How Will Boomers Fare at Retirement?  / Research Report
May 2004— While baby boomers will accumulate more wealth and more real income at retirement than did previous generations, this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Barbara Butrica and Cori Uccello of The Urban Institute predicts that late boomers will accumulate less wealth and receive no more income than early boomers. (91 pages) (Publication ID: 2004-05)

In Brief: How Will Boomers Fare at Retirement?  / Research Report
May 2004— A short summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which Barbara Butrica and Cori Uccello of The Urban Institute predict that baby boomers will accumulate more wealth and more real income at retirement than previous generations, but late boomers will accumulate less wealth and receive no more income than early boomers. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB84)

Baby Boomers Envision Retirement II: Survey of Baby Boomers' Expectations for Retirement  / Research Report
May 2004— Baby boomers are far more likely now than 5 years ago to describe themselves as knowledgeable about and favorably disposed toward Social Security. This and other findings are discussed in an update to AARP’s 1998 benchmark study of baby boomers’ expectations of retirement. (133 pages)

AARP Releases New Quality-of-Life Index for 50+ America  / News Release
February 2004— AARP today released the first-ever annual “AARP Quality of Life Index” of people aged 50 and above.

Boomers at Midlife: The AARP Life Stage Study  / Research Report
February 2004— How satisfied or dissatisfied are middle-aged baby boomers with various aspects of their lives? Their views of the present and outlooks for the short-term future are revealed in this series of annual surveys.

Boomers at Midlife 2003: The AARP Life Stage Study  / Research Report
December 2003— Findings from the second in a series of annual surveys about how satisfied or dissatisfied middle-aged baby boomers are with various aspects of their lives, and their short-term outlook for the future.

New AARP Study Shows Few – And Small – Inheritances for Boomers  / News Release
November 2003— Is it boom or bust for boomers in their retirement years?

Retirement Plan Coverage and Saving Trends of Baby Boomer Cohorts by Sex: Analysis of the 1989 and 1998 SCF  / Research Report
November 2003— Recent changes in boomer pension and IRA coverage and personal saving levels are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Jules H. Lichtenstein and Ke Bin Wu. Based on 1989 and 1998 data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the report focuses on differences between older and younger boomers as well as between women and men. (8 pages) (Publication ID: DD93)

Pennies from Heaven: Will Inheritances Bail Out the Boomers?  / Research Report
October 2003— Can boomers realistically expect to inherit large amounts of wealth from their parents? In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Mitja Ng-Baumhackl, John Gist and Carlos Figueiredo explore the implications for retirement security and how inheritances might influence decisions to work and retire. (8 pages) (Publication ID: DD90)

Baby Boomers Hold Their High School Years in High Regard  / News Release
September 2003— Baby boomers hold their high school years in high regard.

The State of 50+ America  / News Release
January 2003— The State of 50+ America.

Boomers at Midlife 2002: The AARP Life Stage Study  / Research Report
November 2002— Succinct synopsis of findings from the first in a planned series of annual surveys about how satisfied or dissatisfied middle-aged Baby Boomers are with various aspects of their lives, and their short-term outlook for the future. (13 pages)

Boomers at Midlife: The AARP Life Stage Study  / Research Report
November 2002— Succinct synopsis of findings from the first in a planned series of annual surveys about how satisfied or dissatisfied middle-aged Baby Boomers are with various aspects of their lives, and their short-term outlook for the future. (13 pages)

Tracing Baby Boomer Attitudes Then and Now: A Comparative Look at the Attitudes of Baby Boomers in the 1970s and 2002  / Research Report
August 2002— How they felt then and feel now about government, religion, education, business, ethics, sex, and personal responsibility: in some cases, the 30-year time span has meant huge changes in attitudes; in others, it seems as if hardly any time has passed. (27 pages)

Do Baby Boomers Save and, If So, What For?  / Research Report
June 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by John Gist, Ke Bin Wu, and Charles Ford assesses baby boomers' progress in their preparation for retirement by examining what survey data reveal about how much boomers have saved, and their attitudes toward saving. (30 pages) (Publication ID: 9906)

Baby Boomers Envision Their Retirement: An AARP Segmentation Analysis  / Research Report
February 1999— This study by Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc. for AARP, illustrates the diversity of Baby Boomers in terms of their attitudes, expectations and behaviors with respect to their retirement. (110 pages)

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)