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Social Security Reform

Social Security: Ten Facts that Matter  / Research Report
April 2009— This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Selena Caldera discusses ten important facts about Social Security, highlighting the program’s long-term solvency problem and the critical role it plays in securing the income of many Americans. (6 pages) (Publication ID: FS154)

In Brief: Employment Support for the Transition to Retirement: Can a New Program Help Older Workers Work Longer and Protect Those Who Cannot?  / Research Report
April 2009— In this brief synopsis of an AARP Public Policy Institute report with the same title, David Stapleton of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., proposes a program to encourage later retirement by helping older workers increase their earnings and postpone reliance on their retirement benefits until the benefits are larger. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB170)

Employment Support for the Transition to Retirement: Can a New Program Help Older Workers Continue to Work and Protect Those Who Cannot?  / Research Report
April 2009— This AARP Public Policy Institute report by David Stapleton of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., proposes a program to encourage later retirement by helping older workers increase their earnings and postpone reliance on their retirement benefits until the benefits are larger. (51 pages) (Publication ID: 2009-05)

In Brief: Raising the Retirement Age Would Impact the Most Vulnerable  / Research Report
March 2009— This brief synopsis of an AARP Public Policy Institute Research Paper by Xiaoyan Li, Michael Hurd, and David S. Loughran of the RAND Corporation examines who might be adversely affected if the age of early eligibility for Social Security retirement benefits, currently 62, is increased. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB169)

In Brief: Social Security Financing: Automatic Adjustments to Restore Solvency  / Research Report
February 2009— A growing number of countries are adopting automatic mechanisms to improve social security solvency, rather than changing taxes or benefits in an ad hoc manner. This brief synopsis of a paper by John Turner of the Pension Policy Center highlights the experience of 12 countries that have adopted auto-stabilization mechanisms. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB166)

Social Security Financing: Automatic Adjustments to Restore Solvency  / Research Report
February 2009— Many countries are facing social security solvency problems as longevity increases and birthrates fall. A growing number are adopting automatic mechanisms to improve solvency, rather than changing taxes or benefits in an ad hoc manner. In this paper, John Turner discusses the experience of 12 countries that have adopted auto-stabilization mechanisms. (32 pages) (Publication ID: 2009-01)

The Characteristics of Social Security Beneficiaries Who Claim Benefits at the Early Entitlement Age  / Research Report
November 2008— This PPI Research Paper by Xiaoyan Li, Michael Hurd, and David S. Loughran of the RAND Corporation analyzes the characteristics of workers who take early Social Security retirement benefits. Its objective is to determine who might be adversely affected if the age of early eligibility for benefits, currently 62, is increased. (59 pages) (Publication ID: 2008-19)

Reform Options for Social Security  / Research Report
April 2008— The most prominent options for improving Social Security’s financial picture are described in this Insight on the Issues, by Alison Shelton of AARP’s Public Policy Institute. The pros and cons of 14 reform options are reviewed, along with estimates of the impact of each option on Social Security’s financial status. (9 pages) (Publication ID: I3)

In Brief: Sweden’s Move to Defined Contribution Pensions  / Research Report
October 2007— In 1994 Sweden converted its defined benefit public pension scheme into a combination of a notional defined contribution (NDC) pay-as-you-go scheme and a financial defined contribution (FDC) scheme, becoming one of the first national mandatory financial schemes in the world. This short summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Edward Palmer of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and Uppsala University discusses the motives for and the design and implementation of the reformed Swedish pension system. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB146)

Sweden’s Move to Defined Contribution Pensions  / Research Report
October 2007— In 1994 Sweden converted its defined benefit public pension scheme into a combination of a notional defined contribution (NDC) pay-as-you-go scheme and a financial defined contribution (FDC) scheme, becoming one of the first national mandatory financial schemes in the world. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Edward Palmer of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and Uppsala University discusses the motives for and the design and implementation of the reformed Swedish pension system. (28 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-16)

The Results Are In.....2007 AARP Poll of Guam Residents Age 50+  / Research Report
September 2007— This first-ever 2007 AARP telephone survey of 554 age 50+ residents of Guam identifies recent life events of significance and concern to them and explores their opinions regarding such specific issues as Social Security, health care quality and services on the island, Medicare and consumer fraud. (22 pages)

Social Security: Basic Data  / Research Report
June 2007— How does Social Security affect the incomes of age 65+ Americans? In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Alison Shelton identifies recipients of Social Security benefits by beneficiary status, gender and ethnicity. The report tells how much beneficiaries receive, describes how Social Security is financed, and explains its financial status. (2 pages) (Publication ID: DD159)

Retirement Security Survey Report: February 19, 2007  / Research Report
February 2007— Reflecting their concerns about retirement security issues, this January 2007 online AARP survey of 1,514 age 21+ Americans finds them open to a conversation about seeing that Social Security can meet its long-term financial obligations with a majority willing to at least consider four out of eight suggested reform options. (51 pages)

In Brief: Mandatory Employer Pensions in Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom  / Research Report
January 2007— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie Korczyk revealing lessons about expanding U.S. pension coverage to be learned from Irish, German and U.K. experiences in operating their new mandatory (on employers) 401(k)-type pension plans and comparing the plans’ features with those of American 401(k)s. (1 page) (Publication ID: INB134)

Mandatory Employer Pensions in Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom  / Research Report
January 2007— Features of the new mandatory (on employers) 401(k)-type pension plans in Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom are compared with American 401(k) plans in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie Korczyk. The study includes lessons to be learned from the three countries’ experiences that are applicable to expanding U.S. pension coverage. (30 pages) (Publication ID: 2007-03)

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)

AARP Election Watch 2006: Pulse of a Generation  / Research Report
November 2006— Of 1,500 age 42+ likely voters surveyed between October 23rd and 29th, 2006 by AARP, 83 percent are seriously considering the rising budget deficit in their voting decisions, and 76 percent are likely to vote for candidates supporting increased domestic spending while 47 percent favor and 40 percent oppose creating a national sales tax to fund healthcare for children and the uninsured.

Common Ground for America’s Future: The Opinions of AARP Members in Ohio About National Election Issues in 2006  / Research Report
September 2006— Assuring Social Security’s future, allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, financing individuals’ long-term care, and making health insurance coverage available are among the issues examined in this report of a June 2006 telephone survey of AARP members in Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District. (27 pages)

Social Security and 50+ Workers: A Survey of AARP Florida Members  / Research Report
August 2006— Why do nearly a third of AARP members in Florida continue working at a time when many of their peers are retired? This 2006 survey of 1,089 members finds that maintaining their health insurance, paying out-of-pocket health care costs, and needing income are the leading reasons. (26 pages)

Minimum Benefits in Social Security  / Research Report
August 2006— Social Security’s redistributive features are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Melissa M. Favreault, Gordon B. T. Mermin and C. Eugene Steuerle of the Urban Institute who discuss whether a minimum benefit may be a more equitable or efficient way to reduce need among the aged and disabled. (76 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-17)

Common Ground on the Future: The Opinions of AARP Members in the State of Colorado and in Colorado’s 7th Congressional District  / Research Report
August 2006— Assuring Social Security’s future, achieving lower prices for prescription drugs, and financing long-term care services are among the critical election-campaign issues examined in these reports of two June 2006 telephone surveys of AARP members across Colorado and in Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.

Common Ground for America’s Future: The Opinions of AARP Members in Tennessee About National Election Issues in 2006  / Research Report
July 2006— Assuring Social Security’s future, allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, financing individuals’ long-term care, and making health insurance coverage available are among the issues examined in this report of a June 2006 telephone survey of AARP members in Tennessee. (42 pages)

Common Ground on the Future: National and Iowa Member Opinion About 2006 Election Issues  / Research Report
July 2006— National and State of Iowa AARP member opinions on major issues for the November 2006 elections are explored in this report of a recent national telephone survey of AARP members around the nation, across Iowa, and in Iowa’s Congressional District #1. AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH. (19 pages)

AARP National Member Survey About 2006 Election Issues - June 26, 2006  / Research Report
June 2006— Opinions and levels of concern about many of the issues – including those directly affecting their own health and financial security – discussed in campaigns for the November midterm elections are reflected in the results of this June 2006 telephone survey of 1,000 AARP members across the United States. (24 pages)

In Brief: The Effects of Investing the Social Security Trust Funds in GNMA Mortgage-Backed Securities  / Research Report
February 2006— A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which Thomas Hungerford examines the effect on Social Security trust fund solvency of investing its assets in Government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities, which are guaranteed in principal and interest by the federal government but carry a higher yield than U. S. treasury bonds. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB116)

The Effects of Investing the Social Security Trust Funds in GNMA Mortgage-Backed Securities  / Research Report
February 2006— How investing Social Security trust fund assets in Government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities (MBS) might affect the fund’s long-term solvency is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Thomas Hungerford. MBS are guaranteed in principal and interest by the federal government but carry a higher yield than U.S. treasury bonds. (55 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-02)

2005 Survey of AARP Members in Louisiana  / Research Report
December 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Long-term care, Social Security, and electric utility issues are examined in this 2005 mail survey of 914 Louisiana AARP members.

Reforming Social Security: Lessons from Abroad  / Research Report
December 2005— Four nations’ experiences with pension reform involving privatization are examined in papers by international pension experts presented at the May 2005 AARP Public Policy Institute seminar. Authors and countries covered include James Schulz on Australia; Michael Mendelson, Canada; John B. Williamson, Chile; David Blake and John Turner, United Kingdom.

In Brief: Social Security Privatization Around the World  / Research Report
October 2005— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which John Turner examines social security privatization and its effects in different parts of the world. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB106)

Social Security Privatization Around the World  / Research Report
October 2005— The privatizing or partial privatizing of social security is occurring in an increasing number of countries around the world. What has been the experience of countries that have gone in that direction? In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, John Turner examines social security privatization in different nations and regions of the world. (32 pages) (Publication ID: 2005-15)

In Brief: Social Security Pensionable Age in OECD Countries: 1949-2035  / Research Report
October 2005— A succinct summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which John Turner examines the pensionable or early retirement age policy of social security programs in 23 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries over the years 1949-2035. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB105)

Social Security Pensionable Age in OECD Countries: 1949-2035  / Research Report
October 2005— The pensionable age for social security in many nations is going up. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, John Turner examines the pensionable or early retirement age policy of social security programs in 23 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries over the years 1949-2035. (55 pages) (Publication ID: 2005-16)

Rethinking the Role of Older Workers: Promoting Older Worker Employment in Europe and Japan  / Research Report
October 2005— How is older-worker employment fostered in the European Union (EU) and Japan? This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sara E. Rix examines this question, providing data and commentary on the aging of populations, retirement trends, and the older worker, with particular focus on EU efforts to increase both the employment rate of older workers and the effective retirement age. (32 pages) (Publication ID: IB77)

AARP National GROW Accounts Poll: September 8, 2005  / Research Report
September 2005— What are GROW Accounts? How do people view them? This AARP National Poll gauges the general public’s opinion of a recent proposal by some in Congress to create private accounts for workers under age 55 by borrowing an amount of money equal to the annual surplus of the Social Security Trust Fund. (19 pages)

Social Security 70th Anniversary Survey Report: Trends Over Time  / Research Report
August 2005— The American public again affirms its strong support for the Social Security program in this AARP 2005 telephone-survey report. Comparisons between the findings of this 70th anniversary survey and those of the 50th and 60th anniversary surveys indicate that the public today knows more about the program and continues to rate it highly. (26 pages)

How Carve-Out Private Accounts Deal with Increases in Life Expectancy  / Research Report
July 2005— The ways that voluntary carve-out private accounts, as proposed by President Bush, deal with increased life expectancy are discussed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by John Turner. An increase in life expectancy would reduce the annual benefit from the hypothetical account, but this reduction would be exactly offset by an increase in the traditional Social Security benefit. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS121)

The Future of Social Security  / Speech
July 2005— AARP President Marie Smith on the U.S. Social Security system and AARP’s role in the current debate on the Social Security reforms in the U.S. at The Future of Social Security conference in Santander, Spain on July 18, 2005.

Administrative Costs for Social Security Private Accounts  / Research Report
June 2005— Possible administrative costs for a carve-out account system within the U.S. Social Security program are estimated in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by John Turner based on Chile’s, Sweden’s and the United Kingdom’s experiences with similar systems. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS120)

AARP Oregon Social Security Survey: June 3, 2005  / Research Report
June 2005— Oregon residents’ opinions about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in AARP’s random telephone survey of 700 age 18+ Oregon residents conducted between May 21st and 25th, 2005. (17 pages)

AARP New Hampshire Social Security Survey: May 27, 2005  / Research Report
May 2005— New Hampshire residents’ opinions about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in The University of New Hampshire Survey Center’s random telephone survey of 502 age 18+ New Hampshire residents conducted between April 24th and May 2nd, 2005. (16 pages)

AARP Ohio Congressional District 14 Social Security Survey: April 14, 2005  / Research Report
April 2005— Opinions about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in AARP’s random telephone survey of 503 age 18+ residents of Ohio’s 14th Congressional District conducted between April 1st and 13th, 2005. (16 pages)

AARP Members Contact Congress in Record Numbers  / News Release
April 2005— A half million Congressional contacts by AARP members have been made since January to express concerns about Social Security.

AARP Ohio State Social Security Survey: April 18 2005  / Research Report
April 2005— Ohioans’ opinions about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in AARP’s random telephone survey of 700 age 18+ Ohio residents conducted between April 1st and 13th, 2005. (16 pages)

AARP Iowa Social Security Survey  / Research Report
April 2005— Iowans’ opinions about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in AARP’s random telephone survey of 710 age 18+ Iowa residents conducted between April 1st and 7th, 2005. (16 pages)

Social Security Privatization in Latin America  / Research Report
March 2005— Chile was a pioneer when it privatized its social security program in 1981. Other Latin American nations soon followed. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, John Turner provides an overview of their experience. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS107)

Private Accounts in Sweden  / Research Report
March 2005— In 2000, Sweden established mandatory private accounts as part of its retirement income system. The Swedish private accounts require a contribution rate of 2.5 percent of wages as an add-on to a social security system that requires a contribution of 16 percent. So far, observes John Turner in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet, most workers have lost money on their private accounts. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS109)

AARP Members and Private Social Security Accounts  / Research Report
March 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: How AARP members feel about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences – such as cuts to Social Security benefits, and new federal debt – of taking money from Social Security to create private accounts are examined in these findings from AARP’s national telephone survey of 1,000 AARP members conducted between March 16th and 22nd, 2005. (16 pages)

Private Accounts in Chile  / Research Report
March 2005— In 1981, Chile ended its traditional social security program and required that all new private sector employees participate in private accounts. This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by John Turner finds that the Chilean private account system has failed to provide adequate benefits for many workers, in part because of workers under-reporting their wages and under-paying their required contributions. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS110)

Public Attitudes Toward Social Security and Private Accounts  / Research Report
February 2005— How Americans age 18 and up feel about Social Security, private accounts, and the consequences for Social Security if private accounts are created with Social Security funds are examined in these reports of findings from AARP's national telephone survey conducted in late January and its individual state telephone surveys of Arkansas, Florida, Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota conducted in late January and early February.

Social Security: Do We Have to Act Now?  / Congressional Testimony
February 2005— John Rother, AARP Director of Policy and Strategy, testifies before the Senate Special Committee on Aging

Young Americans See the Devil in Private Account Details  / News Release
February 2005— Young Americans, often viewed as open to private accounts in Social Security, in fact question the proposal when confronted with details, a new national poll shows.

Problems Encountered with Private Accounts in the United Kingdom  / Research Report
February 2005— How private accounts that are similar in many ways to those proposed by President George W. Bush for Social Security reform have worked in the United Kingdom since their adoption in 1987 is discussed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by John Turner. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FS106)

Strengthening and Securing Social Security  / Congressional Testimony
January 2005— AARP Board member Douglas Holbrook testifies before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

New AARP Poll Finds Appeal of Social Security Private Accounts Drops When Consequences Are Known  / News Release
January 2005— If given a choice, three-in-five Americans would strengthen Social Security with as few changes as possible, according to a poll conducted by AARP.

New AARP Poll Finds Appeal of Social Security Private Accounts Drops When Consequences Are Known  / News Release
January 2005— If given a choice, three-in-five Americans would strengthen Social Security with as few changes as possible, according to a poll conducted by AARP.

The Public Response to the Consequences of Social Security Private Accounts  / Research Report
January 2005— How the public views the Social Security program is examined in this report of a December 2004 telephone survey of 1,500 age 30+ individuals, which also assesses their attitudes toward private accounts carved from Social Security funds.

Media Briefing by AARP President Marie Smith  / Speech
January 2005— Marie Smith declares that strengthening Social Security is AARP's top legislative priority in 2005.

Press Briefing Opening Statement by AARP CEO Bill Novelli  / Speech
January 2005— AARP CEO Bill Novelli talks about AARP's policy agenda for 2005.

Social Security Reform and Its Effects on Participation in the Supplemental Security Income Program  / Research Report
December 2004— How Supplemental Security Income, a program designed to reduce poverty among the aged, blind, and disabled, could be affected by five of the various Social Security solvency proposals is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Melissa M. Favreault, Jillian A. Berk and Karen Smith of the Urban Institute. (53 pages) (Publication ID: 2004-18)

In-Brief: Social Security Reform and Its Effects on Participation in the SSI Program  / Research Report
December 2004— A short summary of the similarly titled AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper in which the impact that five of the various Social Security solvency proposals could have upon potential future recipients of Supplemental Security Income benefits is examined by Melissa M. Favreault, Jillian A. Berk and Karen Smith of the Urban Institute. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB93)

Privatizing Social Security in Latin America  / News Release
December 2004— AARP Global Aging Program Idea Exchange with Dr. Indermit Gill of The World Bank.

AARP Reacts to President Bush’s Convention Remarks on Social Security  / News Release
September 2004— Private accounts are not the answer. AARP opposes creating private retirement accounts by diverting funds from Social Security. Shifting money from Social Security into private accounts jeopardizes the secure benefit people know today.

Women and Individual Social Security Accounts in Chile, Australia, and the United Kingdom  / Research Report
July 2003— How women fare under the social security systems of Australia, Chile and the United Kingdom, countries with individual accounts which have been proposed for the United States, is explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Sophie M. Korczyk of Analytical Services. (55 pages) (Publication ID: 2003-09)

Individual Accounts: Lessons from Sweden  / Research Report
May 2003— What America might learn from Sweden's experience with funded mandatory individual retirement income accounts that are similar in some respects to those that might be adopted in the United States as part of Social Security reform is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by John Turner. (13 pages) (Publication ID: IB60)

Retirement Age and Social Security Reform: The Macroeconomic Effects of Working Longer  / Research Report
March 2003— How Social Security benefits, the trust funds, compensation, income and savings would be affected if the labor force participation rate of older persons were to rise is explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Satyenda Verma and Sara E. Rix. (13 pages) (Publication ID: IB59)

The Role of Annuities in a Reformed U.S. Social Security System  / Research Report
December 2002— The annuitization of individual Social Security account assets is analyzed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Jeffrey B. Liebman of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government who provides a guide for policymakers to use in thinking about how withdrawals from a system of personal retirement accounts (PRAs) might be managed. (67 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-17)

Ten Points Concerning Carve-Out Social Security Individual Accounts  / Research Report
October 2002— If some part of current payroll taxes were to be diverted from Social Security to finance carve-out accounts, the program's ability to provide social insurance to workers and their families would be reduced. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Alison Shelton and Laurel Beedon discuss carve-outs and their impact on beneficiaries and the Social Security program in general. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD80)

Feasibility of Social Security Individual Accounts  / Research Report
September 2002— The feasibility of modeling Social Security individual accounts after the federal employees' Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is examined in this AARP Public Policy Issue Paper by Frank Cavanaugh, a former TSP executive director, who concludes that a system of individual accounts cannot easily be adapted to the TSP format. (20 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-14)

The Impact of Social Security Reform on Low-Income and Older Women  / Research Report
July 2002— How proposed reforms to the Social Security system might affect American women's economic well-being is explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Melissa M. Favreault and Frank J. Sammartino of The Urban Institute. (59 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-11)

Could Individual Accounts Lead to Government Interference in the Stock Market?  / Research Report
June 2002— In debating Social Security reform proposals espousing equity investment to increase returns on investment, some have argued that, while stock investment through Social Security trust funds could lead to political manipulation of stocks, investing via individual accounts would not. This premise is false, maintains Alison Shelton in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief. (11 pages). (Publication ID: IB57)

The Effect of Social Security Reform Proposals on Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, and Private Disability Insurance  / Research Report
July 2001— Some Social Security reform proposals would result in reduction of the program's disability insurance benefits. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, Selin Opcin and David Stapleton of The Lewin Group suggest that it is important for policy makers to address both disability and retirement reform simultaneously. (46 pages) (Publication ID: 2001-13)

A Note On Using An Experimental CPI-E For Older Americans  / Research Report
December 2000— CPI-E is an experimental gauge in use since 1987 for measuring the Consumer Price Index for people age 62 and older. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, econometrician Satyendra Verma traces CPI-E's development and analyzes the implications of using it for indexing Social Security cost of living adjustments (COLAs) (2 pages) (Publication ID: DD52)

Comparing Current Social Security Reform Proposals  / Research Report
November 2000— Four prominent proposals for keeping Social Security solvent and how they would affect current workers and future beneficiaries are compared in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Andrew Lyon and John Stell of the University of Maryland. (50 pages) (Publication ID: 2000-19)

Individual Accounts, Social Security, and the 2000 Election  / Research Report
September 2000— Results from a July 2000 AARP survey: Most of those polled expect Social Security to be a key factor in determining which presidential candidate they will choose. But, while generally supporting the idea of changing the system by establishing private accounts, their support quickly fades when they consider the possible consequences of specific plans. (53 pages)

Social Security Reform: Rethinking Retirement-Age Policy--A Look At Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age  / Research Report
November 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sara E. Rix discusses the implications for workers and employers of raising the age of eligibility for full Social Security retired worker benefits, referred to as the "normal retirement age." (24 pages) (Publication ID: IB40)

The Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees  / Research Report
July 1999— Because a number of the plans to reform Social Security include providing individuals with the opportunity to save and invest on their own, this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Laurel Beedon examines the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) designed for federal employees to determine whether the TSP is a viable model for an individual investment tier for Social Security. (29 pages) (Publication ID: 9909)

Social Security Reform: Economic Effects of Planned Changes in the CPI  / Research Report
April 1999— The economic impact of the forthcoming changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on some key economic variables like the federal deficit, the trust fund balance, Social Security benefit payments, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its components are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Satyendra Verma. (8 pages) (Publication ID: IB37)

Social Security Reform: The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for Federal Employees  / Research Report
July 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Laurel Beedon profiles the TSP and includes tables detailing the programs returns, deferral rates and investment allocations. (6 pages) (Publication ID: IB33)

Social Security Reform: The Budget Surpluses and Social Security  / Research Report
April 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John R. Gist addresses the President's proposal to reserve all budget surpluses until we 'save Social Security.' (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD34)

A Critical Look at Equity Investment in the 1994-1996 Advisory Council on Social Security Recommendations  / Research Report
April 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Lee Cohen, Laurel Beedon and Carlos Figueiredo describes three approaches to restoring Social Security's long-term solvency and analyses their impacts on individuals. (29 pages) (Publication ID: IB30)

Investing the Social Security Trust Funds in Equities  / Research Report
March 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Alicia Munnell and Pierluigi Balduzzi of Boston College identifies the advantages and potential pitfalls of investing some of the Social Security trust fund reserves in corporate equities. (36 pages) (Publication ID: 9802)

Chile's Experience with the Privatization of Social Security  / Research Report
August 1995— Factors leading to Chile's 1981 reform of its social insurance system, features of the new system, and its advantages and disadvantages for Chile and future Chilean retirees are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by Sara E. Rix. (8 pages) (Publication ID: IB23)

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