Abstract

This article begins by briefly describing the social security program. It then discusses the reasons for social security's widespread popularity and its impending funding crisis. The article goes on to briefly describe some of the pending privatization proposals. The article concludes by discussing the practical and theoretical problems with privatizing social security. Specifically, it describes the investment risk participants face under a privatized system and the transition problems created by converting to such a system. Finally, this article explains why the privatization proposals promote misguided paternalism and misconceive the role social security should play in our national retirement system.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 1998

12-16-2014

Notes/Citation Information

Temple Law Review, Vol. 71, No. 1 (Spring 1998), pp. 131-169

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