BOOK
Barry P. Bosworth, February 10, 2012
Longtime Brookings economist and former presidential adviser Barry Bosworth
examines why saving rates in the United States have fallen so precipitously over the
past quarter century, why the initial consequences were surprisingly benign, and how
reduced saving will affect the future well-being of Americans. Read More
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
Anne W. Kamau and Brandon Routman, September 15, 2011, The Brookings Institution
While women's involvement in all economic sectors is a pivotal aspect of development, women in Africa face barriers that prevent full participation. Anne Kamau and Brandon Routman examine how many African women overcome these challenges by forming voluntary groups to mobilize savings and collectively invest in improving their livelihoods. 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
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
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Washington, DC
On April 26, the Retirement Security Project at Brookings explored the results from the only long-term experiment to date with Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) -- saving accounts where withdrawals for approved purposes are awarded matching funds and where account holders receive financial education and encouragement to save. Despite the "asset-building" movement's promotion of saving in general and home ownership as an effective way to help low-income households raise their economic status, there has been little in the way of hard evidence to support these claims. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Gary Burtless, April 25, 2011, Retirement Security Project
With budgetary challenges forcing policymakers to reassess the feasability of traditional public pension systems, Gary Burtless considers the shortcomings of private saving arrangements in duplicating the advantages of public pensions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Karen Dynan, March 29, 2011, The Fiscal Times
Discussions on the causes of America's financial crisis often include the idea that savings among households was unsustainably low, and borrowing was unsustainably high, during the boom of the last decade. Are households behaving more prudently in the post-crisis environment? Karen Dynan takes a look at this question, based on a new study from the Federal Reserve Board. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Joshua Meltzer, February 14, 2011, The Brookings Institution
The latest U.S. trade figures contain some good news for the United States. According to Joshua Meltzer, the composition of U.S. imports points to growth being driven by investment, which should flow through to new jobs. However, Meltzer argues that the trade figures continue to illustrate the importance of the U.S.-China trading relationship, and of the need for a rebalancing of both the U.S. and Chinese economies. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mauricio Cárdenas and Jeff Frank, February 11, 2011, The Brookings Institution
High savings rates in China have allowed developing nations in Latin America to have cheap access to capital. With increasing evidence that China's high savings rates may soon decline, Mauricio Cárdenas and Jeff Frank discuss the policy implications for growth in many developing countries in Latin America and argue that these countries must promote financial development in order to increase their own national savings. Read More