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2003 and prior Retirement Security publications
A Proposal to Create Universal Access to Retirement Security
06.01.2002 | The crux of the pension problem is that many businesses find it unaffordable to implement and maintain a pension plan. This paper proposes a solution to this problem in the form of a state-sponsored, universal, portable, 401(k)-style program called Washington Voluntary Accounts (WVAs). Full report »
Social Security Is One of the Best Friends American Women Have
04.28.2002 | Social Security is a great American success story. Poverty among our seniors has fallen to less than 10%, compared to 35% as late as the 1950s. Social Security also provides a stable income to millions of younger families that have suffered the death or disability of a worker. Over three million children collect benefits, including at least 2,300 children whose parents were killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks. Full Report »
After Enron: Pension Reform Proposals
03.01.2002 | In response to problems brought to light by the Enron debacle, a number of legislative proposals have been offered. This brief offers a summary of some of the most prominent proposals. Full Report »
Social Security Trustees Report 2002 - An Analysis
03.01.2002 | The 2002 Annual Report of the Social Security Trustees confirms that our nation’s premier poverty fighting program is in excellent financial health. The program has accumulated sufficient reserves to finance the retirement of the baby boomers, and will have the resources to pay even higher benefits to today’s young workers and their children. Full Report »
Social Security and Public Opinion
03.01.2002 | While Washington residents initially support restructuring Social Security to a system of private accounts, they change their opinion when they learn about the loss of guaranteed benefits and the costs of transition. Full Report »
Key Elements of Washington Voluntary Accounts
01.01.2002 | Outlines a fix for disappearing defined benefit (pension) plans for Washington workers. Fact Sheet »
Washington Voluntary Accounts - Focus Groups
11.13.2001 | Key findings from two focus groups on Washington Voluntary Accounts, EOI's proposal for universal pension access for Washington workers. Fact Sheet »
A Tale of Two Reforms
06.13.2001 | Contrasts the future for a typical middle class family under two reform Social Security reform proposals. Full Report »
The Power of the Bottom Line: Policy Implications of Cost Estimates for Paid Family Leave and Social Security
06.01.2001 | As policy analysts and scholars, most of us devote a great deal of time and thought to the details and assumptions behind the bottom line numbers. But once we have produced and published a number, it takes on a life of its own. The bottom line number gets reported and used by people on all sides of an issue, severed from the multiple assumptions and careful qualifications that tempered and grounded it.Full Report »
Social Security Under Attack
05.08.2001 | The most recent annual report by the Social Security trustees confirms that with normal economic and productivity growth, Social Security will easily pay full benefits through 2075 and beyond, even with longer average life spans. Unfortunately, several factors have converged to reinforce belief in a phony crisis, and the mistaken belief that Social Security is on the verge of bankruptcy and must be radically reformed. Full Report »
Bush’s Individual Account Proposal: Rhetoric Versus Reality
03.01.2001 | George W. Bush won plaudits during the recent election campaign for “starting a conversation” on Social Security. Unfortunately, the discussion thus far has been long on misleading rhetoric and short on hard facts. Full Report »
The Perils of Bush's Social Security Plan
03.01.2001 Fact Sheet »
Social Security Trustees Report 2001 - An Analysis
03.01.2001 | The Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund issued their 2001 annual report on March 19, 2001 showing a system that is fundamentally healthy, and confirming that fears of a “Social Security crisis” are unfounded. The trustees project program costs and income a full 75 years into the future based on numerous assumptions about population trends and the economy. Full Report »
Board of Trustees Announce: Social Security Fully Funded for 37 Years
03.01.2001 | In each of the last three years, the trustees have pushed back the date when projected Social Security revenues will fund only partial benefits. With the U.S. economy growing at an annual rate of 4.3% since 1996 and continued increases in worker productivity, the trustees’ report for spring 2000 extended full solvency for Social Security for three additional years, to 2037. Full Report »
Social Security Fact Sheet
02.01.2001 Fact Sheet »
Pension Privatization in Britain: A Boon to the Finance Industry, a Boondoggle to Workers
09.01.2000 | Proponents of Social Security privatization often claim that their motive is to help workers. Armed with sunny sales pitches and multi-million dollar marketing budgets, privatizers claim that individual accounts would give workers “better returns,” “freedom of choice,” and “improved efficiency.” Interestingly, though, these groups that are purportedly fighting for workers are not funded by workers, but by the finance industry. Full Report »
Social Security Privatization in Chile: A Case for Caution
09.01.2000 | Proponents of Social Security privatization often trumpet the Chilean “success story.” Right wing economists (and the finance industry-funded think tanks that sponsor them) spin fabulous yarns about the way the free market transformed Chile’s pension system. In doing so, however, they leave out crucial parts of the plot. Privatization advocates paper over very serious problems with Chile’s social security program. Full Report »
Strengthening Social Security for the 21st Century
07.01.2000 | Since 1935 Social Security has been the foundation of economic security for America’s workers, retirees and their families. This fundamental program provides benefits to more than 44 million people, including retirees, disabled workers and the families of deceased workers. Social Security is a financially sound program that will have the resources to pay benefits to future retirees of all living generations. Full Report »
Social Security and Public Opinion
06.01.1999 Full Report »
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