Jim Palmieri, PhD

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, retirement security, financial security, behavioral economics

ABOUT

Jim Palmieri is a senior policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute, where he focuses on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) policy issues, and financial security more broadly. His work often explores the myriad ways Social Security and SSI impact low-income people.

Before joining AARP, Palmieri was a professor of economics at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he taught a variety of courses in areas such as econometrics, labor economics, behavioral economics, and the economics of poverty and inequality.

Palmieri works extensively on Social Security and SSI policy with leading policy experts and thought leaders at the National Academy of Social Insurance, RAND Corporation, and the Urban Institute, as well as with officials at the Social Security Administration. He also provides technical assistance to other areas of AARP including Government Affairs, AARP Foundation, and AARP’s many state offices. Palmieri was Supplement Editor to the 2018 special edition of the Public Policy & Aging Report titled, “Innovative Approaches to Improve Social Security Adequacy in the 21st Century,” published by Oxford University Press. He is a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance.

He holds a PhD from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Northern Illinois University.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

• Social Security State Fact Sheets
• Social Security: A Lifeline for Older Women and Minorities
• Current Issues in Social Security: Financial Capability and Representative Payees

Read Jim Palmieri's blog posts. 

CONTACT

For media inquiries, call 202-434-2560 or e-mail media@aarp.org.