VIDEO
Barry P. Bosworth, February 09, 2012
For decades, the low rate of saving has had surprisingly benign effects on both American consumers and the U.S. government, but that all may be in the process of changing, and quickly, according to Barry Bosworth.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William G. Gale and David C. John, February 08, 2012, The Brookings Institution
William Gale and David John write that Americans who use defined contribution retirement savings plans, such as 401(k) or 403(b) plans, or Individual Retirement Accounts will see their retirement security enhanced by two new regulatory initiatives. Gale and John argue that they will give Americans more flexibility in structuring retirement incomes, while making it easier to avoid some fees. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen, January 01, 2012, The Day
Robert Pozen looks at Newt Gingrich's proposals to reform Social Security and income taxes, arguing that while they may be based in familiar Republican concepts, they in fact avoid fiscal discipline by complicating the tax code and incentivizing risk through a privatized version of Social Security. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Henry J. Aaron, December 08, 2011, Senate Special Committee on Aging
Before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Henry Aaron presented a detailed examination of the conditions that generations born in 1860, 1890, 1930, and 1960 had to deal with as they reached old age. Aaron also explains why the prospects for those born after 1960 are troubling. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen, October 23, 2011, Financial Times
Robert Pozen explains the new Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs) being introduced to Canada's already strong retirement system. Pozen says that these PRPPs will go a long way towards increasing retirement security for millions of Canadians, but the program's success depends on a number of key design decisions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen, October 20, 2011, Huffington Post
Robert Pozen examines Herman Cain's proposal to abolish the payroll tax and move from the current Social Security system to one based on private accounts. Cain's plan, Pozen writes, would dramatically increase the short-term deficit by failing to address the cause of the shortfall. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William G. Gale, September 15, 2011, United States Senate Committee on Finance
Before the United States Senate Committee on Finance, William Gale discussed a proposal that would reform public policies toward retirement saving. The proposal would increase savings participation rates, particularly in the current weak economic conditions, and help close the fiscal gap by raising $450 billion over the next decade through tax reform. Read More
PAST EVENT
Friday, September 09, 2011
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
On September 9, the Retirement Security Project at Brookings hosted a briefing in collaboration with the Senate Special Committee on Aging to examine new ways to help Americans save for retirement without increasing government spending. A panel of experts on tax, retirement and budget policy explored ideas to modify the tax incentives for retirement savings. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William G. Gale, September 08, 2011, The Brookings Institution
William Gale describes a retirement savings policy that would improve household participation rates, maintain retirement saving behavior in weak economic conditions and help solve long-term fiscal problems by raising $450 billion equitably through broad-based progressive tax reform. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
David C. John, August 30, 2011, U.S. Department of Labor
In testimony before the U.S. Department of Labor, David John argues that effectively designed automatic enrollment in 403(b) plans would boost participation rates and increase savings rates. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen, July 19, 2011, The Huffington Post
Robert Pozen argues that if the United States is to control its long-term federal spending, Social Security is the most viable source for trillion-dollar reductions. Pozen proposes a Savers Credit with a progressive plan to eliminate Social Security's deficit and mitigate any loss of retirement income for the middle-class. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen and Theresa Hamacher, July 13, 2011, Pensions & Investments
The U.S. approach to funding retirement income has no parallel in the rest of the world and doesn't do enough to help American achieve financial security, argue Robert Pozen and Theresa Hamacher. Pozen and Hamacher argue for the adoption of best practices from other countries to make it easier for Americans to save for retirement. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
AARP, The Brickfield Center
Washington, DC
The Retirement Security Project at Brookings along with AARP, the New America Foundation and the Heritage Foundation host a presentation and panel discussion on the use of employer-sponsored retirement savings programs for other needs such as a down-payment for a first house, to pay off student loans, or just to build a nest egg without endangering retirement security. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Henry J. Aaron, June 01, 2011, The New Republic
In today's budget deficit debates, Henry Aaron writes that there are actually two separate challenges: in the near term, finding a way to cut spending or raise taxes to prevent government debt from rising faster than income; and in the long term, curbing health care spending and possibly reforming Social Security. Treating the two budget deficits as one, however, only hampers efforts at finding an adequate solution to either. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert C. Pozen, May 22, 2011, Financial Times
Although target date funds are now a popular option for retirement plans in the United States, Robert Pozen explains why balanced funds-which keep 60 percent of their assets in stocks and 40 percent in bonds-are a better option. Read More