Description: This article contains reviews of the following books published in 1992: 1. 'Broken Promises: The Inside Story of the Failure of Executive Life' by Vic Modugno, 2. 'Within the System: My Half Century in Social Security' by Robert J. Myers, 3. 'Insurance Risk Models' by Harry H. Panjer and Godon E. Willmot, and 4. 'Social Security: What Every Taxypayer Should Know' by A. Haeworth Robertson. Notices of Social Security notes and studies are also included. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1992, Vol. 44.

Description: This article is about a seminar held on October 30, 1997 to discuss mortality improvement in the NAFTA countries and the impact of such improvements on the financing and benefit adequacy of the countries’ individual social security systems. The gathering of about 80 researchers from a variety of disciplines served as a type of summit meeting on the NAFTA countries’ mortality projections. The seminar was Phase 2 of a three-phase SOA research project, 'Impact of Mortality Improvement on Social Security: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.' The project is intended to provide some guidance for appropriate governmental bodies to use in determining future financing and benefit needs for social security. It is sponsored by the SOA, The Actuarial Foundation [formerly the SOA Foundation], the Retirement Research Foundation, the American Society of Pension Actuaries, the social security administration of each NAFTA country, and the Pension Research Council.

Description: This article discusses the relative merits of investing some Social Security assets in common stocks either by 1. Adjusting the retirement benefits and taxes, and investing part of the Social Security trust funds in the stock market [the 'defined benefit,' or DB, method], or 2. Reduce the basic retirement benefits further, and have workers invest part of their future contributions in individual accounts [the 'defined contributions,' or DC, method].

Description: The author summarizes her experience participating as an expert as part of a forum that was launched to give the public a neutral avenue through which to express views on the U.S. Social Security program and possible reforms. This particular forum focused on women's issues with respect to Social Security.

Description: This 1978 teaching session provided a basic primer on the design of the OASDI benefit formula. Areas covered included: 1. The Decoupling issue 2. The Average Indexed Monthly Earnings 3. The Primary Insurance Amount formula 4. The Indexing procedure 5. Transition arrangements 6. The Short Service problem 7. Replacement Ratio considerations 8. Impact of Wage Base changes 9. The Retirement Age and Retirement Test.

Description: This article considers the challenges that need to be addressed in the cost analysis of long range social insurance programs, which in the US is now over a period of 75 years. The main thrust of this paper is the consideration of population changes however, the effects of economic elements cannot be ignored. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, 1984 Volume No. 1.

Description: Discussion of social security systems in the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean.

Description: Panelists and audience engage in a discussion about how to address – and how not to address – the basic financial-income needs of people in the U.S. after they have retired from a productive work life. Considers the current Social Security system in the U.S. and the systems in other countries. From the 1997 Record of Society of Actuaries, Vol. 23, No. 3.

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.