James H. Schulz, Robert H. Binstock

Aging Nation (eBook, PDF)

The Economics and Politics of Growing Older in America

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

With the impending retirement of some 76 million Baby Boomers, understanding the economic, political, and social issues related to the aging population is paramount. If the doom-and-gloomers have their way, the elderly will be put out to pasture, with inadequate health care and financial resources, and a crumbling social welfare system. In Aging Nation, renowed experts in the field, James Schulz and Robert Binstock, agree that there is considerable cause for concern, but with a variety of sound policies and programs in place and smart individual choices, the elderly can prosper, and a demographic tsunami is not inevitable. Drawing from the most current data, the authors provide in-depth analysis of the nation's evolving private and public policies on retirement, faltering employer pensions, health care, workplace conditions, and entitlement programs, and consider such timely issues as poverty among the elderly, rejoining the workforce after retirement, Social Security and health care reform, and the rise of the elderly as a powerful political force. Dispelling popular myths and misconceptions that are perpetrated by politicians and pundits alike, they provide a comprehensive and balanced assessment of the issues and their impact on everyone, old and young. Deserving poor or greedy geezers? The debate rages on. In a period of huge government deficits and the impending retirement of some 76 million Baby Boomers, understanding the economic, political, and social issues related to the aging population is paramount. The policy debates have never been more contentious; they range from deciding who should receive limited subsidized housing and medical services to the ongoing battle over saving Social Security and other entitlement programs. If the doom-and-gloomers have their way, the elderly will be put out to pasture, with inadequate health care and financial resources, and a crumbling social welfare infrastructure that will implode under the strain of intergenerational conflict. This book debunks most aging crises put forth by merchants of doom and offers a new policy focus for our nation. In Aging Nation, renowned experts in the field, James Schulz and Robert Binstock, agree that there is considerable cause for concern, but with a variety of sound policies and programs in place and smart individual choices, the elderly can prosper, and a demographic tsunami is not inevitable. Drawing from the most current data, the authors provide in-depth analysis of the nation's evolving private and public policies on retirement, faltering employer pensions, health care, workplace conditions, and entitlement programs, and consider such timely issues as poverty among the elderly, rejoining the workforce after retirement, Social Security and health care reform, and the rise of the elderly as a powerful political force. Dispelling popular myths and misconceptions that are perpetrated by politicians and pundits alike, they provide a comprehensive and balanced assessment of these issues and their impact on everyone, old and young.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc
• Seitenzahl: 296
• Altersempfehlung: ab 7 Jahre
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. Oktober 2006
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780313027451
• Artikelnr.: 68528516

Autorenporträt

JAMES H. SCHULZ is Professor of Economics and Kirstein Professor of Planning and Administration of Aging Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University. A former president of the Gerontological Society of America, Professor Schulz has written extensively in the field of aging and social policy.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface 1. Baby Boomers and the Merchants of Doom 2. The Phony Threat of
Population Aging 3. The Search for Security with Dignity 4. Dealing with
Risk 5. The Company Pension: Altruism or Self-Interest? 6. The Pension
Lottery: Personal Pension Accounts 7. To Work or Not to Work: That Is the
Question 8. Health and Longevity: What Lies Ahead? 9. A Gerontocracy? The
Politics of Aging 10. Framing the Issues for an Aging Nation Notes Index