Retirement and Pension Research

Poverty Risk Six Times Greater for Older Americans Lacking Pension (07/2009)

Defined benefit pension income plays a critical role in reducing the risk of poverty and hardship among older Americans. According to a study released today, rates of poverty among older households lacking pension income were about six times greater than those with such income. The analysis also finds that pensions reduce ­ and in some cases eliminate ­ the greater risk of poverty and public assistance dependence that women and minority populations otherwise would face.

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New Survey Finds 83% of Americans Concerned About Retirement, offers a roadmap for policymakers (01/2009)

New research finds retirement insecurity across the nation. Americans say access to pensions would reduce anxiety and express strong support for government action to ease the way for employers to offer pensions.

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Research Finds Public Pensions Invest Prudently in Bull and Bear Markets (11/2008)

The current financial crisis brings renewed attention to the issue of retirement security.Today, employees and retirees alike are watching their 401(k) savings plans shrivel as the financial markets continue to plummet. Meanwhile, beneficiaries of public pensions learn that the performance of their retirement plans are not immune to financial market volatility.

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Look Before You Leap:  The Unintended Consequences of Pension Freezes (10/2008)

Americans are increasingly worried about their retirement security in the face of falling home values, turmoil in the financial markets, and general economic instability. This insecurity can, at least in part, be attributed to the fact that fewer workers and retirees are able to count on a secure, predictable monthly pension, as more employers in the private sector have “frozen” participation in their pension plans.

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A Better Bang for the Buck: The Economic Efficiencies of DB Plans (08/2008)

Worries about retirement security abound. Families fear that they won’t have enough to support an adequate retirement income as home values and financial markets plummet. Dwindling profit margins have employers looking to cut costs. Some have proposed replacing traditional defined benefit (DB) pensions with 401(k)-type defined contribution (DC) retirement savings plans in an effort to save money. But, to deliver the same level of retirement benefits, a DB plan can do the job at almost half the cost of a DC plan.

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Retirement Readiness: What Difference Does A Pension Make?

(05/2008)

An adequate retirement income can be defined as one that enables an older household to take care of its own needs in retirement.  Workers who retire without adequate sources of income may face a range of unattractive choices.

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