Tag: social security financing

Close up of hands holding a paycheck and envelope at a desk

Two of my friends – Andrew Biggs (“No, Social Security Isn’t Earned”) and Gene Steuerle (“Lifetime Social Security Benefits and Taxes”) are making my brain ache.  They are both arguing that people will get lifetime Social Security benefits far in excess of lifetime contributions, and the “unearned” portion of future benefits should be on t…

Financial graph of stocks that are running up and down according to financial markets

Investing some of the Social Security trust fund’s assets in equities has always had obvious appeal.  Equity investment has higher expected returns relative to safer assets, so Social Security might need less in tax increases or benefit cuts to achieve long-term solvency.  On the other hand, equity investments involve greater risk and raise concerns about…