How Effective is Redistribution Under the Social Security Benefit Formula?

In this study, data from the Health and Retirement Study linked to the Social Security Administration is used in order to analyze wealth redistribution by way of Social Security. This redistribution seems to go from the upper earners to the lower earners. More specifically, the wealth is being redistributed from men to women and, when looking at the household context, from primary earners to secondary earners. The study also illustrates wealth redistribution when specific factors are taken into account and show how much of an effect different variables have on the redistribution of wealth. From their analysis the authors conclude that privatizing the Social Security system would have no effect on redistribution of wealth.