PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE
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Older Americans and the Recession
PPI’s Economics Team analyzes the impact of the current recession on older workers and retirees.
Work Disability and Early Retirement
Four papers examine the characteristics of early retirees and people with work disabilities and policy options that could improve their health and financial security.
In November 2009, nearly 2.1 million persons aged 55 and over were officially unemployed, that is, they were without jobs but looking for work. This figure, up from 843,000 at the start of the recession, translated into an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent. Average duration of unemployment had risen to 36 weeks for the aged 55+ unemployed, over half of whom had been out of work for 27 or more weeks.
Other Economic Security Reports
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The Consumer Price Index: How It Impacts the Federal Budget and Social Security Benefits
This Fact Sheet by Selena Caldera of AARP's Public Policy Institute Economics team describes the four consumer price indexes and discusses how they impact the federal budget and benefit programs. The Fact Sheet explains the calculation of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to monthly Social Security benefits and why there are no COLAs projected for 2010 and 2011. (9 pages)
September 17, 2009
By: Selena Caldera, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP.org
Reassessing the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
This review of the existing research on age discrimination in employment assesses how successful the 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) has been in achieving its goals. While hiring enforcement has lagged behind termination enforcement under the ADEA, it will become more important as baby boomers seek post-retirement employment, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute report by David Neumark of the University of California at Irvine. (53 pages)
June 19, 2008
By: David Neumark, Department of Economics, University of California at Irvine | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Department of Economics, University of California at Irvine
In focus: Work Disability and Early Retirement
Four papers examine the characteristics of early retirees and people with work disabilities and policy options that could improve their health and financial security.
August 25, 2009
By: PPI Economics Team | Source: AARP.org
Generations of Struggle
The average age for filing bankruptcy has increased, and the rate of bankruptcy filings among those ages 65 and older has more than doubled since 1991, according to this Public Policy Institute paper by Deborah Thorne, Elizabeth Warren and Teresa A. Sullivan. (16 pages)
June 17, 2008
By: Deborah Thorne, Ohio University; Elizabeth Warren, Harvard Law School; Teresa A. Sullivan, University of Michigan | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Ohio University; Harvard Law School; University of Michigan
Preparing for Their Future: A Look at the Financial State of Gen X and Gen Y
To profile and better understand Generation X and Generation Y’s current and future financial situation, the American Savings Education Council (ASEC) and AARP (on behalf of Divided We Fail) commissioned this January 2008 online survey of 1,752 Americans ages 19-39. The report addresses financial behavior, financial goals, and financial literacy as well as perceptions of differences with older generations and views about workplace benefits. (59 pages)
March 19, 2008
By: Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc.; American Savings Education Council (ASEC); AARP, on behalf of Divided We Fail
In Brief: Reverse Mortgages: Niche Product or Mainstream Solution? Report on the 2006 AARP National Survey of Reverse Mortgage Shoppers
A succinct summary of the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report of the same title in which Donald L. Redfoot of PPI, Ken Scholen of the AARP Foundation, and S. Kathi Brown of AARP Knowledge Management present the results of the first survey of reverse mortgage shoppers—older homeowners who have gone through reverse mortgage counseling and either taken out a loan or decided not to do so. (2 pages)
December 12, 2007
By: Donald L. Redfoot, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ken Scholen, AARP Foundation; S. Kathi Brown, AARP Knowledge Management | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Reverse Mortgages: "Niche Product or Mainstream Solution? Report on the 2006 AARP National Survey of Reverse Mortgage Shoppers"
Results of the first survey of homeowners who have considered a reverse mortgage, both those who have taken out these loans and those who have decided against them, are presented in this AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) Research Report by Donald L. Redfoot of PPI, Ken Scholen of the AARP Foundation, and S. Kathi Brown of AARP Knowledge Management. (228 pages)
December 12, 2007
By: Donald L. Redfoot, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ken Scholen, AARP Foundation; S. Kathi Brown, AARP Knowledge Management | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
The State of 50+ America 2007
AARP’s fourth annual “report card” on the quality of life of age 50+ Americans finds them somewhat better off now than a few years ago, but there is still much room for improvement. The report examines changes in various economic, health, social and lifestyle indicators over the most recent year, as well as multi-year periods. (60 pages)
January 31, 2007
By: John Gist, AARP Public Policy Institute; Laurel Beedon, AARP Public Policy Institute; Lisa Southworth, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Business Executives’ Attitudes Toward the Aging Workforce: Aware But Not Prepared?
While most of the 1,055 business executives surveyed by AARP during July 2006 know that their companies may be – or already are – affected by the aging of the workforce, few say their organizations are preparing for boomer retirements while 59 percent believe their firms should be thinking about how to retain older workers. (28 pages)
October 12, 2006
By: BusinessWeek Research Services
Older Americans and the Recession
PPI’s Economics Team analyzes the impact of the current recession on older workers and retirees.
November 13, 2008
By: PPI’s Economics Team | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Learn how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and how several European nations have implemented work-sharing.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
