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Social Security as a financial asset: gender-specific risks and returns

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  • BAXTER, MARIANNE

Abstract

Social Security is a financial asset whose ‘purchase’ is compulsory for most working individuals. This paper shows that the return on Social Security during the individual's working lifetime is related to the rate of change of aggregate labor income. If an individual's labor income is strongly related to aggregate labor income, then the Social Security asset is a particularly unattractive asset. In this situation, the individual would benefit from a reformed Social Security system that would permit investment of retirement funds in other financial assets. This paper investigates how this aspect of Social Security risk varies across groups of individuals who differ according to gender; education; race; and age. The main finding is that there are important differences across groups in this component of Social Security risk, as captured by the sensitivity of individual-level income growth to changes in the SSWI. This element of risk is most important for women, especially women who are young-to-middle aged and with more education. This analysis suggests that women would have more to gain, compared with men, from a reformed Social Security system.

Suggested Citation

  • Baxter, Marianne, 2002. "Social Security as a financial asset: gender-specific risks and returns," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 35-52, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jpenef:v:1:y:2002:i:01:p:35-52_00
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alan L. Gustman & Olivia S. Mitchell & Andrew A. Samwick & Thomas L. Steinmeier, "undated". "Pension and Social Security Wealth in the Health and Retirement Study," Pension Research Council Working Papers 97-3, Wharton School Pension Research Council, University of Pennsylvania.
    2. Arthur B. Kennickell & Martha Starr-McCluer & Annika E. Sunden, 1997. "Family Finance in the U.S.: Recent Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), vol. 83(1), pages .1-24, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander W. Blocker & Laurence J. Kotlikoff & Stephen A. Ross & Sergio Villar Vallenas, 2019. "The True Cost of Social Security," Tax Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(1), pages 131-163.
    2. Tabea Bucher-Koenen & Annamaria Lusardi & Rob Alessie & Maarten van Rooij, 2017. "How Financially Literate Are Women? An Overview and New Insights," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 255-283, July.
    3. David McCarthy, 2003. "A Lifecycle Analysis of Defined Benefit Pension Plans," Working Papers wp053, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services
    • H3 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents

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