Social Security: A Primer
Abstract
This Congressional Budget Office primer on Social Security describes the elements of the program that are most relevant to the current debate about Social Security's future. The primer comes at a time when policymakers are grappling with the issue of how to deal with the looming retirement of the baby-boom generation. Over the next three decades, the number of people in the United States age 65 or older is projected to rise by more than 90 percent, while the number of adults under age 65 will increase by only about 15 percent. That demographic shift will pose new challenges for the Social Security program, the federal government, and the U.S. economy. This primer examines the demographic patterns that are causing the graying of the U.S. population and looks at several strategies that have been proposed for preparing for that aging population. It emphasizes the economic and budgetary aspects of Social Security-particularly, how changes to the program might affect the nation's ability to deal with its impending demographic shift.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA397867
Entities
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office