PHE 559 Economics of Aging

Objectives are (1) understand the roots of income inequality between the aged and non-aged; (2) review the economic and policy factors that influence the decision to retire; (3) understand the political economy of old age income support in the U.S. and abroad; (4) explore the history, operation, and policy questions of our major public pension system, social security; and (5) discuss private pensions in relationship to U.S. income maintenance policy. Also offered as PHE 659 and may be taken only once for credit.