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Social Security Reconsidered

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  • Aaron, Henry J.

Abstract

Social Security is currently much in the news because it faces a projected funding gap, because of overall budget deficits, and because of doubts in some quarters about its design. Minor adjustments are sufficient to close the funding gap. Benefit cuts, even if considered desirable, would not help close the overall budget gap in a timely way. Some adjustments in Social Security benefits and financing are desirable, but large scale changes would be disruptive and would not well serve the program’s basic purposes — to provide assured, basic income to retirees, the disabled, and survivors — unless they more or less replicated the current program.

Suggested Citation

  • Aaron, Henry J., 2011. "Social Security Reconsidered," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 64(2), pages 385-414, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:64:y:2011:i:2:p:385-414
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2011.2.06
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    Cited by:

    1. Frédéric Gannon & Florence Legros & Vincent Touzé, 2020. "Sustainability of pension schemes. Building a smooth automatic balance mechanism with an application to the us social security," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(6), pages 377-401.
    2. Partha Sen, 2023. "Social security reform and welfare in a two sector model," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 74(2), pages 233-249, April.
    3. Alan J. Auerbach & Kerwin K. Charles & Courtney C. Coile & William Gale & Dana Goldman & Ronald Lee & Charles M. Lucas & Peter R. Orszag & Louise M. Sheiner & Bryan Tysinger & David N. Weil & Justin W, 2017. "How the Growing Gap in Life Expectancy May Affect Retirement Benefits and Reforms," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 42(3), pages 475-499, July.
    4. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/1nnmnobpu685qait9jaqir07rn is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Frédéric Gannon & Florence Legros & Vincent Touzé, 2020. "Sustainability of pension schemes. Building a smooth automatic balance mechanism with an application to the us social security," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(6), pages 377-401.
    6. Partha Sen, 2020. "Postponing Retirement and Social Security in a Two Sector Model," CESifo Working Paper Series 8751, CESifo.
    7. Benjamin W. Veghte, 2015. "Social Inequality, Retirement Security, and the Future of Social Security," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(2), pages 97-122, June.
    8. Sergio Nisticò & Mirko Bevilacqua, 2018. "Some Notes On The Redistribution Inherent In The U.S. Public Pension System," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(3), pages 566-581, July.

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