Number: 98-195
Title: Social Security Reform: How Much of a Role Could Personal Retirement Accounts Play?
Authors: Geoffrey Kollmann, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: Numerous proposals have been made calling for creation of individual retirement accounts to replace or supplement future Social Security benefits. Some believe that having workers accumulate assets based on their own contributions would be a better way to secure future retirement incomes. Others see the creation of private accounts as a way to offset cuts in Social Security that may be needed to restore the system to a sound financial footing. Much of the debate is fueled by the perception that per dollar of contributions, individual accounts invested in the private sector would exceed the value of future Social Security benefits, particularly since those benefits will likely need to be curtailed as the post World War II baby boomers retire.
Pages: 15
Date: Updated May 15, 2002