PHE 559 Economics of Aging

1. understand the roots of income inequality between the aged and non-aged;
2. review the economic and policy factors that influence the decision to retire;
3. understand the political economy of old age income support in the U.S. and abroad;
4. explore the history, operation, and policy questions of our major public pension system, social security; and
5. discuss private pensions in relationship to U.S. income maintenance policy.