Public and Private Challenges of an Aging U.S. Population

TitlePublic and Private Challenges of an Aging U.S. Population
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsMitchell, OS
JournalBusiness Economics
Volume51
Issue1
Pagination8 - 10
Date PublishedJan-01-2016
ISSN Number0007-666X
KeywordsIncome, Income inequality, Savings, Social Security, Spending, Taxes
Abstract

The challenges posed by the aging of the US population for business and public policy are vast. They are amplified particularly by:

  • Slow increase of incomes - and therefore low private savings - for those at the bottom of the pay distribution.

  • Cutbacks in employee health-care insurance and defined benefit pension plans.

  • Unsustainability of Social Security and Medicare as currently configured.

This paper spells out these challenges and discusses how they can be addressed. Of particular importance are some combination of enhanced revenue and reduced expenditure for Social Security and Medicare, the shift of private pension plans from defined benefit to defined contribution, the need to consider later retirement ages, and the need for improved personal financial literacy.

URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1057/be.2016.6
DOI10.1057/be.2016.6
Short TitleBus Econ
Citation Key9745