Social Security: The System That Works

Reassesses the effectiveness of the social security system, argues that private pensions are not inherently better, and looks at the Medicare program

The authors are pension experts who coauthored the 1964 title The Future of Private Pensions; Merton Bernstein also was a consultant to the National Commission on Social Security, which in 1982 revised the endangered retirement program's financial structure for enactment by Congress. Despite persisting rumors to the contrary, the Social Security system is now solidly funded, with surpluses projected beyond the year 2020, according to the authors. By contrast, they note, a large variety of corporate and industrial retirement plans often leave employees unpensioned after working for many years. Also covered are Medicare/Medicaid, the case for a later retirement age and for defined-benefit or defined-contribution plans, as well as the special problems women face in retirement. Although a technical study for professionals, the book contains much the general reader should know.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.