Abstract:
Any meaningful reform of the US Social Security system must deal with the system's current outstanding accumulated unfunded liabilities. The authors model these as a once-off financial liability payable 'tomorrow'. They show that if the equity premium puzzle arises from adverse selection problems which prevent risk-spreading through market transactions, then the government can improve the ex ante welfare of the young today by acquiring equity today to assist in financing its obligations to meet social security payments to the old tomorrow.
Keywords:SOCIAL SECURITY; EQUITY; FISCAL POLICY (search for similar items in EconPapers) JEL-codes:E62H55 (search for similar items in EconPapers) Date: Written
There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.