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Social Security Reform: Economic Issues (CRS Report for Congress)

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Release Date Revised Jan. 31, 2007
Report Number RL31498
Report Type Report
Authors Jane Gravelle and Marc Labonte, Government and Finance Division
Source Agency Congressional Research Service
Older Revisions
  • Premium   Revised Jan. 14, 2005 (50 pages, $24.95) add
  • Premium   Revised Dec. 3, 2004 (50 pages, $24.95) add
  • Premium   July 11, 2002 (50 pages, $24.95) add
Summary:

Comprehensive Social Security reform has been an issue of debate in Congressfor some time, but no major action has occurred. Reform proposals have been drivenin part by a recognition that in the future the program is financially unsustainableunder current policy. This report tackles the issue from an economic perspective thatfocuses not merely on reform that achieves programmatic sustainability(sustainability within the trust fund), but reform that achieves sustainability for thegovernment and economy as a whole. Moreover, it stresses the importance ofunderstanding the economic consequences of program changes if one is to understandwho pays to achieve this sustainability and what type of changes might be consistentwith the economic rationale for social insurance.