PPI Reports on Income and Assets
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The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Older Americans
The economic downturn and its impact on older Americans is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Insight on the Issues by Sandy Mackenzie. It finds that the federal government must concentrate above all on reviving the economy and the flow of credit. (18 pages)
December 31, 2008
By: Sandy Mackenzie, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Sources of Income for Older Persons
This series of AARP Public Policy Institute reports, written by Ke Bin Wu, examines income sources for persons age 65 and older and the distribution of each income source by gender, race/ethnic group, age, and income quintile. The data in the most recent report, drawn from the March 2007 Current Population Survey, show that older persons with low income depend heavily on Social Security and that earnings have become a more important income source for the older population over the last 11 years.
July 23, 2008
By: Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
State Handbook of Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Indicators 2008
Up-to-date state-level data on population, poverty rates, per capita state personal income, state tax rates, property tax relief programs, and state and local government revenues and spending programs are provided in this seventh edition of AARP Public Policy Institute’s easy-to-use, biennial reference book by David Baer. (462 pages)
April 28, 2008
By: David Baer, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Sources of Income for Women Age 65 and Older
Without Social Security, half of all women over 65 would live in poverty, according to this Public Policy Institute Data Digest in which Ke Bin Wu analyzes the poverty rates of women age 65+ in the U.S. and the distribution by race/ethnic group of their income sources. (4 pages)
November 30, 2007
By: Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
African Americans Age 65 and Older: Their Sources of Retirement Income in 2005
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet looks at sources of income for African Americans age 65+ and finds they rely on Social Security far more than retirees as a whole. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2006 Current Population Survey, PPI’s Ke Bin Wu analyzes the poverty rates and distribution of income sources by sex. (2 pages)
September 30, 2007
By: Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Losing Ground: Has The Economic Expansion Helped Or Hurt Older Americans?
The recent economic recovery has been the least robust of any since World War Two, and has resulted in lower real incomes and greater income inequality for Americans age 50 and older, according to this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist. (7 pages)
September 22, 2006
By: John Gist, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Boomer Wealth: Beware of the Median
Reports suggesting that boomers have retirement savings of $50,000 or less underestimate the amounts that boomers have and are likely to have at retirement. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, John Gist finds that the oldest boomers have significantly more than younger boomers, and those closest to retirement still have several more years to work and accumulate assets. (6 pages)
September 15, 2006
By: John Gist, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Women Age 65 and Older: Their Sources of Income
Older women have fewer retirement income sources and are more likely to be poor than older men. This AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu charts and discusses the income sources and poverty status of women 65 and older. (4 pages)
October 18, 2005
By: Laurel Beedon, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
African Americans Age 65 and Older: Their Sources of Income
The poverty status of -- and sources of retirement income for -- older African Americans in comparison with the economic security of the overall age 65+ population is presented by Laurel Beedon and Ke Bin Wu in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet underlining the importance of Social Security. (2 pages)
September 1, 2004
By: Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
The Inequality of Financial Wealth Among Boomers
The inequality of baby boomer wealth is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by John Gist and Ke Bin Wu. The report found that boomer wealth is more concentrated now than it was in the late 1980s. (8 pages)
July 1, 2004
By: John Gist, AARP Public Policy Institute; Ke Bin Wu, AARP Public Policy Institute | 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.
