Social Security Wealth: The Impact of Alternative Inflation Adjustments

42 Pages Posted: 4 Jul 2004 Last revised: 1 Aug 2022

See all articles by Martin S. Feldstein

Martin S. Feldstein

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) (deceased); Harvard University (deceased)

Anthony J. Pellechio

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Statistics Department; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: November 1977

Abstract

The distribution of wealth is one of the most important and least studied features of our economic life. A lack of good data on household wealth is the primary reason for the inadequate attention to this subject. Moreover, the evidence that is available from household surveys and estate records excludes the most important asset of the vast majority of households: the value of future social security benefits. The purpose of the current paper is to present evidence on the distribution of social security wealth and to use these estimates to analyze the impact of alternative methods of adjusting future benefits for changes in the price level.

Suggested Citation

Feldstein, Martin S. and Pellechio, Anthony J., Social Security Wealth: The Impact of Alternative Inflation Adjustments (November 1977). NBER Working Paper No. w0212, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=260403

Martin S. Feldstein (Contact Author)

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Harvard University (deceased)

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Anthony J. Pellechio

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Statistics Department ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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United States

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