May 19, 2013
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Original Reporting
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Aging, Poverty, Social Security
For those aged 45 to 54, there is a range of policy options — beyond the fatalistic prescription to “just work longer” — that has the potential to materially enhance retirement security, if adopted quickly. For those aged 55 to 64 the outlook is bleaker, though there are steps that could be taken to ameliorate the worst of the anticipated impacts on the poorest retirees. Despite the availability of a potential solution for the 45- to 54-year-old group and of an improved safety net for the 55- to 64-year-old group, no one we spoke with suggested that the political will to effect such changes exists today.
Intent on demonstrating that the Danish model is unsustainable, the article in The New York Times exaggerates reforms, characterizes fundamental elements of social safety net as “perks,” and fails to notice that, as one of our sources explained, “the Danish welfare state is alive and well, it has wide public support, and it isn’t going anywhere.”
The maximum value of public assistance benefits has fallen dramatically in every state between 1970 and 2011 for families of three.
Story Repair
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Alternative models, Government services
Danish experts said the changes are generally modest and broadly consistent with the longstanding welfare state model.
Map & Data Resources
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Unemployment
The 12-month moving average of the unemployment rate for Hispanic men between the ages of 26 and 40 with less than a high school degree has decreased by 6.6 percentage points from its peak of 14.2 percent in January of 2010, representing a decline of 46.6 percent. By contrast, the 12-month moving average of the unemployment rate for black women between the ages of 16 and 25 with less than a high school degree has decreased by 3.0 percentage points from its peak of 48.5 percent in August, 2011, representing a decline of only 6.0 percent.
Lyric of the week
The papers lie there helplessly
In a pile outside the door
I’ve tried and tried, but I just can’t remember what they’re for
The world outside is tugging like a beggar at my sleeve
Now, that’s much too old a story to believe
And you know that it’s taken it’s share of me
Even though you take such good care of me
Now you say “Morocco” and that makes me smile
I haven’t seen Morocco in a long, long while
The dreams are rolling down across the places in my mind
And I’ve just had a taste of something fine
(Jackson Browne, “Something Fine”)
Look at previous lyrics of the week.