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Would a Privatized Social Security System Really Pay a Higher Rate of Return?

Author

Listed:
  • Geanakoplos, J.
  • Mitchell, O.S.
  • Zeldes, S.P.

Abstract

As the U.S. Social Security system has matured, the rate of return received by participants has fallen. In the coming years, around the time the Baby Boom generation retires, the system will experience a budget shortfall. Many advocates of reform suggest that an answer to this problem is to rivatize Social Security. Our goal in this paper is to challenge the following popular argument: a)projected returns to Social Security are low relative to expected returns on stocks and bonds, and therefore b) everyone would receive higher returns and be better off if we moved to a privatized system where individuals could directly invest their contributions in sotcks and bonds.

Suggested Citation

  • Geanakoplos, J. & Mitchell, O.S. & Zeldes, S.P., 1998. "Would a Privatized Social Security System Really Pay a Higher Rate of Return?," Papers 98-03, Columbia - Graduate School of Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:fth:colubu:98-03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olivia Mitchell & Flávio Ataliba F. D. Barreto, 1997. "After Chile, What? Second-Round Social Security Reforms in Latin America," Revista de Analisis Economico – Economic Analysis Review, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business, vol. 12(2), pages 3-36, June.
    2. Mitchell, Olivia S & Zeldes, Stephen P, 1996. "Social Security Privatization: A Structure for Analysis," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(2), pages 363-367, May.
    3. Feldstein, Martin & Liebman, Jeffrey B., 2002. "Social security," Handbook of Public Economics, in: A. J. Auerbach & M. Feldstein (ed.), Handbook of Public Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 32, pages 2245-2324, Elsevier.
    4. John Geanakoplos & Olivia S. Mitchell & Stephen P. Zeldes, "undated". "Social Security Money's Worth," Pension Research Council Working Papers 97-20, Wharton School Pension Research Council, University of Pennsylvania.
    5. Arthur B. Kennickell & Martha Starr-McCluer & Annika E. Sunden, 1997. "Family Finance in the U.S.: Recent Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), vol. 83(1), pages .1-24, January.
    6. Alan J. Auerbach & Jagadeesh Gokhale & Laurence J. Kotlikoff, 1994. "Generational Accounting: A Meaningful Way to Evaluate Fiscal Policy," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 73-94, Winter.
    7. Olivia S. Mitchell, 1998. "Social security reform in Latin America," Review, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, issue Mar, pages 15-18.
    8. Martin Feldstein, 1997. "Transition to a Fully Funded Pension System: Five Economic Issues," NBER Working Papers 6149, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SOCIAL SECURITY ; PRIVATIZATION ; PENSION FUNDS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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