Question

uppose the Social Security payroll tax was increased today to 16.4% to solve the 75-year fiscal imbalance in the program. Explain the effect of this change on the value of the Social Security program for

a) young vs. old people;

b) men vs. women.

Answer 1

Solution:-
The amount of the social security payout depends on the average lifetime earning of the residents of the country. The government averages the earning and then finalizes on the amount to be paid by each of the resident. If the payroll tax increases, in the longer run a few workers will get affected but, in the short run the increase has its immediate effect on 92% of the workers. Out of the 92%, 78% have a phase out option whereas 48% of them are under the as-needed scenario.

However, the longer a rate increase is delayed, the higher the increase in lifetime taxes for later generations. Workers born1936–1990 would have higher increases in lifetime taxes under an immediate rate rise, workers born 1996–2005 would generally have higher increases in lifetime taxes under phased increases, and workers born 2006–2015 would have higher increases in lifetime taxes under as-needed increases. The future workers would experience the smallest tax increases under the immediate option. Lifetime taxes for workers born 2011–2015 would rise 16 percent under an immediate increase, 27 percent under phased increases, and 33 percent under as-needed increases.

The increase in the payroll taxes will increase the cost for the people at different income level, as it is calculated on the basis of the income of the individual. As the women are paid lesser than their male counterparts, it can be said that the male population will be affected more by the increase in the social security payout.