June

27
2023

2:00 pm EDT - 3:00 pm EDT

Past Event

The retirement challenge: What’s wrong with America’s system and a sensible way to fix it

  • Tuesday, June 27, 2023

    2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT

The Brookings Institution
Falk Auditorium

1775 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC
20036

The American retirement system is in dire need of attention: the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are projected to be exhausted within the next decade, the vast bulk of tax incentives for saving accrue to the top one-fifth of savers, and retirees increasingly bear the burden for increased risk after they leave the workforce. On Tuesday, June 27, former White House economists Martin Baily and Ben Harris will outline a new paradigm for retirement aimed at improving financial security for millions of retirees by calling on action from policymakers, employers, and households alike. Their conversation will be moderated by Bloomberg’s Peggy Collins.

Drawing from lessons outlined in their new book “The Retirement Challenge,” Baily and Harris highlight a series of necessary changes to the retirement landscape. Acknowledging that our current system of 401(k)-like accounts is here to stay, they lay out a series of incremental policy reforms designed to improve the markets for products like annuities, reverse mortgages, and long-term care insurance. At the same time, they also argue that changes to saving incentives, coupled with better engagement from employers, can help undersavers accumulate more for retirement. Collectively, these reforms could greatly enhance the lives millions of current and future retirees.

Viewers can submit questions for our speakers in advance and follow along with the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #RetirementChallenge or via email at [email protected].

Guests at Brookings are required to attest to their state of health before attending an event in person. Visitors may not enter the building if they are feeling ill for any reason, have any symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19 at any time in the preceding 14 days. 

Agenda