Summarizes current trends in public employee pension systems, discussing the present and potential problems facing such systems and suggesting ways to keep public pension plans financially solvent. Available from: Salary and Merit, Suite 908, 1835 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006; single copy $2.50. (JG)

Describes Governmental Accounting Standards Boards' (GASB) proposed new standards addressing the recognition, measurement, and reporting of other postemployment benefits (excluding pension benefits), the most common of which are health-care benefits. Includes a lengthy table of tentative GASB decisions on other postemployment benefits. Suggests…

Early retirement programs do not necessarily result in the greatest savings. To ensure a successful program, employers must consider all factors that influence an employee's decision to participate. (JOW)

Faculty members should consider becoming more involved in the oversight of their personal retirement funds. Both price and inflation risks are best controlled by taking a balanced or diversified approach to investing, with a portfolio based on a predetermined percentage of each type of investment. (MSE)

Most persons seem to respond to economic incentives in choosing when to retire. While changes in the social security system are likely to have only small effects on retirement behavior, larger impacts could ensue from altering incentives implicit in private pension plans. Important area for future research is transition process that follows end of…

Examined preretirement planning in 126 people living in households with respondents in the 45 to 64 age group and not yet retired. Found the importance of pensions and independent sources of income were predictive of the importance of preretirement planning. Found women considered it less important than men to plan for retirement. (ABL)

Companies offering 401(k) plans should provide education so that employees are able to make informed investment decisions. Companies that do not may be held liable. They must also be careful to provide information, not financial advice. (SK)

Finds a broad range of college reactions to the needs of retirees. Formulates a "model program" of services, benefits, and perks--beyond pensions--colleges should be expected to give to retired faculty. (RS)

According to data from the Newly Entitled Beneficiary Survey and the 1979 and 1988 Current Population Survey, much of the gender gap in pensions is caused by gender differences in such labor market characteristics as experience, tenure, and income. Children and marriage have a negative effect on females' pensions, although not for more recent…

Data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation were matched with longitudinal earnings histories and Social Security benefit data to estimate joint work and benefit receipt choices for people age 62 and older. The probability of working is shown to depend on worker characteristics and policy variables. (Author)

Although the rules for public-employee pension funds vary, they operate under the same guidelines. Throughout their careers, teachers and other state and local employees contribute portions of their salaries into retirement funds managed by states and municipalities. In almost all cases, the employers also pitch in a percentage of the employees'…

Social Security program has over the period become unsustainable from tax finance and imply reforms that would cut down on benefits of the elderly. The implications are that elderly may have to increase their post-retirement working, reduce consumption and opt for shared living rather than independent living conditions. The last of the three…

State and federal accountability systems are pressuring public schools to improve the performance of low-achieving students. To respond, schools must be able to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, strengthen curricula, and take other steps to provide struggling students with the help they need. But such efforts are expensive and, as the…

Most National Education Association (NEA) members are covered by a type of retirement plan called a defined benefit pension plan, which provides a specific benefit periodically throughout an employee's retirement. This report provides an overview of the federal tax rules relating to the different types of retirement plans, savings plans, health…

Presents highlights of the "Retirement Income Security Act of 1974" that represents the most comprehensive federal legislation ever enacted affecting the private pension system in this country. (Author)