Description: An over view of recent revisions to Social Security, and their implications to the private sector of the insurance industry.

Description: The author notes that “there is reason to expect 1981 to be the biggest year for Social Security legislation since 1977, perhaps even since 1972. The author further notes that the Congress will be forced to act to bring the system into financial balance. The article discusses some of the actions apt to be considered for legislative action including inter-fund borrowing, general fund borrowing, general revenue financing, changes in retirement age, changes in indexing, move towards universal coverage, and others.

Description: This article is a review of the “Report of the Universal Social Security Coverage Study Group,” published by the department of Health and Human Services in March, 1980. The author of this review notes that the mission of this group was “to examine the feasibility and desirability of mandatory Society Security for employees of the federal government, of state and local governments, and of private non-profit organizations. The article discusses what the report sees as major problems with the lack of universal coverage, and recommendations to address them. Editor’s Note: This is excerpted from a full review to appear in the Transactions.

Description: This is a books review of 'Social Security,' Second Edition, 1981, by Robert J. Myers.

Description: Discusses the report of the fifth Advisory Council which provides recommendations for improving Social Security.

Description: Reports on recent month-end fund balances in the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance funds. They had been facing a great financial crisis recently and now are in much better financial condition.

Description: This article is a review of the 1981 book ‘The Coming Revolution in Social Security,’ by A. Haeworth Robinson. The reviewer notes that the author believes there is ‘dangerous lack of information about the current program,’ but that understanding will bring demand for radical changes. An important question asked by the book is whether, due to the changes in our society and economy since the original program was instituted, and probable future changes, the system needs to be fundamentally different and more flexible.

Description: The book review states 'This monograph provides an independent overview of the assumptions and methodology behind the OASDI estimates made by the Social Security Administration. Such information has heretofore been available only in the annual reports of the Board of Trustees of the OASDI Trust Funds, in the Actuarial Studies issued by the SSA and in writings by individuals closely associated with the system.'

Description: Discusses public pension reform in Japan.

Description: Discusses author's thoughts on emerging social policy such as Social Security.