In: Operations Management
Social Security (SS) within two decades will need to increase the payroll tax revenues or reduce the benefits paid to retirees, if the Social Security program is to remain financially viable. Proposed policies to address the program’s viability include: increasing the full-benefit retirement age; reducing the rate at which current retirees’ benefits are indexed for inflation; taxing current benefits received by high-income elderly; and increasing the payroll tax wage ceiling. Which two of the four proposals will reduce the social security receipts of current benefit recipients? Why? Which two of the four proposals will increase social security taxes paid relative to benefits received for future retirees? Why?