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Social Security Administration

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioSocial Security and Medicare Solvency

Henry J. Aaron, May 14, 2009

The latest report on the solvency of the Social Security and Medicare trust funds reveals that these entitlement programs will likely run out of money sooner than expected. Senior Fellow Henry Aaron assesses the future of these two programs.

Social Security, Social Security Administration, Medicare, Retirement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHigh Priority Poverty Reduction Strategies for the Next Decade

Rebecca M. Blank, August 2008, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Project

The poor in American cut across all groups, but are disproportionately represented by single mothers and their children, by persons of color, by immigrants, by less-skilled individuals, or by those with physical or mental disabilities. Many working poor and near-poor families face problems with low wages or unstable jobs. This paper by Rebecca  Blank outlines three strategic areas where policy and research attention should focus over the next decade. Read More

U.S. Poverty, Children & Families, Unemployment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioBridging the Social Security Divide: Lessons From Abroad

R. Kent Weaver, June 2008, The Brookings Institution

Bridging the Social Security Divide: Lessons From AbroadKent Weaver argues that a new approach to Social Security reform requires the president and congressional leaders to agree on an overall mandate for a commission named through a bipartisan nominating process designed to generate a group that is likely to focus on practical, consensus-building solutions. Special procedures in each house of Congress would provide expedited consideration of the commission’s reform package and alternatives, while providing incentives for constructive congressional engagement in the reform process. Read More

Social Security Administration, Social Security, Retirement, Saving, Aging

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTackle Social Security First

Alice M. Rivlin and John W. Kingdon, June 17, 2008, The News & Observer (Raleigh)

Tackle Social Security FirstThe next president and new Congress face a daunting set of challenges come January 2009: Iraq war, troubled economy, global climate change, looming government debt, taxes, health care reform and rebuilding infrastructure, all vying for immediate attention. Such a long "to do" list presents two possible tactics: tackle the hardest problem first or get the easy ones out of the way. Alice M. Rivlin and John W. Kingdon prefer the latter and would start with Social Security. Read More

Social Security, Fiscal Policy, Retirement, Political Conventions, Social Security Administration

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTaking Back our Fiscal Future

April 2008, The Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation

Taking Back our Fiscal FutureUnsustainable deficits in the federal budget threaten the health and vigor of the American economy. When the next president and Congress take office in January 2009, they will face one crucial question that has been almost absent from the current election campaign: how to close the enormous gap between projected federal spending and revenues. Read More

Fiscal Policy, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Federal Budget

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioHow To Take Back Our Fiscal Future

Monday, March 31, 2008
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Peter MorganSome of the nation’s top economists and budget policy experts presented a new paper arguing that the first step toward establishing budget responsibility is to reform the budget decision process so that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—the major drivers of escalating deficits—are no longer on auto-pilot. Read More

Fiscal Policy, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Budget Deficit

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy the 2005 Social Security Initiative Failed, and What it Means for the Future

William A. Galston, September 21, 2007, NYU John Brademas Center

Italian PM Berlusconi addresses a joint session of the US Congress in the Capitol in WashingtonPresident Bush made Social Security reform his top domestic priority in 2004. In this paper, Brookings's William Galston examines why the president's proposal failed and the politics of Social Security reform.  Read More

U.S. Congress, Retirement, Social Security, Saving, U.S. Economy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioTaming the Deficit: Forge a Grand Compromise for a Sustainable Future

Bill Frenzel, Charles Stenholm, G. William Hoagland and Isabel V. Sawhill, 2007, Opportunity 08

Currently projected deficits are unsustainable and pose serious risks to the economy, make us dangerously dependent on other countries, impose a "debt tax" on every taxpayer, send the bill for current spending to future generations, and weaken the government's ability to invest in the future or respond to emergencies. The next President will have to act to meet the deficit challenge. Read More

Budget Deficit, U.S. Economy, Federal Budget, Political Conventions, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

BOOK

Save to My PortfolioSaving Social Security: A Balanced Approach, Revised Edition

Peter A. Diamond and Peter R. Orszag, August 01, 2005

&The debate about reforming Social Security has become increasingly ideological. Scare tactics and unrealistic promises have become the norm. Diamond and Orszag bring some welcome realism and decency to the debate. They show exactly where the current Read More

Retirement, Saving, U.S. Economy, Social Security Administration, Social Security

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSaving Social Security

Peter A. Diamond and Peter R. Orszag, Spring 2005, Journal of Economic Perspectives

Article by Peter A. Diamond and Peter R. Orszag, Journal of Economic Perspectives (Spring 2005) Read More

Retirement, Macroeconomics, Saving, U.S. Economy, Social Security Administration

In Brief

The Social Security Administration oversees the retirement benefits of millions of Americans, along with benefits for the disabled and the Medicare program. It was established in 1935 as a key component of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.

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Featured Experts

Henry J. Aaron

Henry J. Aaron

Senior Fellow, Economic Studies
The Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Chair

A noted health care expert, Henry Aaron focuses on the reform of health care financing; public systems such as Medicare and Medicaid; Social Security; and tax and budget policy.
Read More

William G. Gale

William G. Gale

Vice President and Director, Economic Studies
Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Federal Economic Policy

Bill Gale, a Brookings vice president and director of the Economic Studies Program, is an expert on tax policy, fiscal issues, pensions, and saving behavior. He is also co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project.
Read More

Alice M. Rivlin

Alice M. Rivlin

Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Economic Studies

Alice Rivlin, the first director of the Congressional Budget Office, is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy. She directs the Greater Washington Research project. 
Read More

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Spotlight

Research ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

Policy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any democracy requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work has extended beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions and issues in higher education. Experts are tackling fundamental issues on the role of education in the national and global economy.

Policy CenterCenter on the United States and Europe

The Center on the U.S. and Europe is dedicated to the study of Europe and U.S.-Europe relations. It involves American and European experts in an active program of research, analysis, and debate.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is a security studies professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

ProgramMetropolitan Policy Program

Redefining the challenges facing metropolitan America and promoting innovative solutions to help communities grow in more inclusive, competitive and sustainable ways.

Research Project21st Century Defense Initiative

The 21st Century Defense Initiative produces cutting-edge research, analysis, and outreach that address some of the most critical issues facing leaders shaping defense policy in the coming century. The initiative focuses on three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.

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ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, who holds the New Century Chair in International Economics, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He is the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University and was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

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Robert Puentes focuses on the broad array of policies and issues related to metropolitan growth and development. He is an expert on transportation and infrastructure, urban planning, growth management, suburban issues and housing.

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