How effective is redistribution under the social security benefit formula?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gustman, AL; Steinmeier, TL
• 署名单位: Dartmouth College; Texas Tech University System; Texas Tech University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0047-2727(00)00153-5
• 发表日期: 2001
• 页码: 1-28
• 关键词: Social Security; wealth distribution; retirement income

摘要

This paper uses earnings histories from the Social Security Administration, linked to the survey responses for participants in the Health and Retirement Study, to investigate redistribution under the current social security benefit formula. As advertised, own benefits are significantly redistributed from individuals with high to those with low lifetime earnings. However, redistribution is roughly halved when spouse and survivor benefits are taken into account and redistribution is measured among families. When families are arrayed by total earnings during years when both spouses are engaged. in substantial work, there is very little redistribution from families with high to low earnings capacity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.