Social Security for Future Generations

Will Americans in the future be able to count on Social Security? Unless the American people and our lawmakers are willing to implement equitable reforms soon, Social Security could become insolvent by 2033. Americans have known for decades that Social Security needs economic adjustments. Unfortunately, making necessary corrections to this successful program has been called the “third rail” of American politics. Fear of political backlash makes elected leaders afraid to do what is necessary to uphold it. Yet without reforms, millions of soon-to-be retired Americans- and future generations- could be negatively impacted. Political inertia sometimes occurs because lawmakers and voters are focused solely on traditionally divisive solutions: cut benefits, raise the retirement age, increase taxes. Social Security for Future Generations presents new, previously overlooked, economically sound, and politically feasible solutions for reforming this vital program- in ways that are equitable for everyone. Written by John A. Turner, a leading economist and scholar on Social Security and pensions, and senior research associate Serena E. McCarthy, this book is a practical guide designed to help lawmakers, academics, economists, and all concerned Americans initiate commonsense reforms to Social Security so that it lasts for generations to come.

Author Biography

John A. Turner (PhD in economics from the University of Chicago) is director of the Pension Policy Center in Washington, DC. He previously worked in pension research offices at the Social Security Administration, the US Department of Labor, AARP, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Serena E. McCarthy is a senior research associate with the Pension Policy Center in Washington, DC. Previously, she was a STEM outreach coordinator and a graduate teaching assistant at American University, where she specialized in science writing consultation and academic research.