Are Baby Boomers Saving Enough for Their Retirement?

Discusses factors that determine the amount of savings baby boomers need for retirement, including income and pre-retirement consumption levels, housing wealth, family type and size, and entitlement to Social Security and defined benefit pension plans

Medicare Premiums and Social Security's Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Outlines how Medicare Part B and Part D premium hikes will cancel out the cost of living increases in Social Security benefits, severely affecting the lowest-income beneficiaries. Examines premium design characteristics and trends in premium growth

Measuring Personal Saving: A Tale of American Profligacy

Outlines the two main measures of personal savings and their limitations in accurately reflecting Americans' savings over the last twenty years, and discusses an alternative measure that includes capital gains in household savings

Will It Take a Crisis to Fix Fiscal Policy?

Explains how federal spending growth is driven by Social Security and Medicare, Medicaid, and other health costs, driven by the aging of the population; challenges for fiscal policy, including congressional dysfunction; and possible reactions to a crisis

The near-term outlook for fiscal policy

Fiscal policy ; Budget

Have Recent Budget Policies Contributed to Long-Run Fiscal Stability?

Examines developments in budget policies since January 2010; the president's 2011 budget, including economic stimulus and tax and spending policies; congressional action; and issues for health reform. Considers their effect on long-term sustainability

Committees Tackle the Deficit

Summarizes the recommendations of a presidential commission and private bipartisan committee for reducing the federal deficit by cutting healthcare costs, Social Security outlays, and discretionary spending, and by raising taxes

Controlling the Deficit: The Debate Continues

Looks at budget cuts proposed by House Republicans and the president's framework with respect to savings in healthcare spending, Social Security and other entitlement spending, and discretionary spending; tax policy; and the Budget Control Act