The Forgotten Issues in Social Security Reform

The world today is very different than when Social Security was created. A number of issues should be considered when thinking about how to reform Social Security, including:

Should we update benefits to reflect changes in family status and economic well-being of the elderly?

Can our children really afford to finance our spending such a large portion of our life in retirement?

Should Social Security reform be used to help strengthen the economy through increased work and saving?

How should we think about Social Security if our primary goal is to provide retirement security for those who are most vulnerable?

The panel explored these issues and their policy implications, providing the context to assess proposed reforms and designing alternatives.

Participants

• Tim Penny
  Chairman, For Our Grandchildren National Advisory Board and Member, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget


• Reid Cramer
  Research Director, Asset Building Program, New America Foundation


• Maya MacGuineas
  Director, Fiscal Policy Program and President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, New America Foundation


• Rudolph Penner
  Senior Fellow, Urban Institute


• Gene Steuerle
  Senior Fellow, Urban Institute


• Melissa Favreault
  Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute