Conference 

# Privatizing Social Security: Beyond the Theory 

Date and Time 

February 6, 2001 10 AM - 5 PM EST 

Location 

Hayek Auditorium 

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##### Featuring 

Speakers include **Donald Marron**, **Thomas Saving**, **Martin Feldstein**, **Peter Ferrara**, **José Piñera**, **Michael Tanner**, **John Zogby**, **Eloise Anderson**, **Chuck Blahous**, **Shane Chalke**, **Wade Dokken**, **Milton Ezrati**, **Jagadeesh Gokhale**, **Bill McInturff**, **William Shipman**, and **Thomas Siems**. 

| For years policy experts have debated the merits of privatizing Social Security. Now, in the wake of the 2000 presidential election, there is a unique opportunity to translate theory into a real working system of individually owned, privately invested accounts. With the exit polls showing 57% support for private investment of Social Security taxes, George W. Bush is entering the presidency with a firm mandate to reform Social Security and has promised to make the issue a top priority for his administration. On February 6–7, 2001, the Cato Institute will host Privatizing Social Security: Beyond the Theory at its Washington, D.C., headquarters. This conference will examine why we need to privatize Social Security and how to do so, including how to finance the transition; how to regulate and administer individual accounts; how privatization will affect women, the poor, and minorities; and the politics of privatization. Invited speakers include Donald Marron, Thomas Saving, Martin Feldstein, Peter Ferrara, José Piñera, Michael Tanner, John Zogby, Eloise Anderson, Chuck Blahous, Shane Chalke, Wade Dokken, Milton Ezrati, Jagadeesh Gokhale, Bill McInturff, William Shipman, and Thomas Siems. Since 1979 the Cato Institute has been seeking alternatives to the current Social Security system and has published more than 40 books, articles, and reports outlining the program’s problems and crafting innovative policy solutions. |
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| **Tuesday, February 6, 2001** |
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| **8:00 — 9:00 a.m.** | **Registration** |
| **9:00 — 9:15 a.m.** | **Welcoming Remarks** ***Ed Crane*** *President*, Cato Institute |
| **9:15 — 10:00 a.m.** | **Keynote Address** ***Martin Feldstein***, Harvard University/​National Bureau of Economic Research |
| **10:00 — 10:15 a.m.** | **Break** |
| **10:15 — 11:30 a.m.** | **Why Privatize Social Security?**Moderator: ***Bill Wilson***, United Savers Alliance. ***Charles Rounds***, Suffolk University Law School ***William Beach***, Heritage Foundation ***Thomas F. Siems***, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, [Reengineering Social Security in the New Economy,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/siems.pdf)” (PDF, 5 pp, 19 kb) ***Richard Jackson***, Concord Coalition |
| **11:30 a.m. — 12:15 p.m.** | **Lunch** |
| **12:15 — 1:00 p.m.** | **Luncheon Remarks** ***Donald Marron***, PaineWebber |
| **1:00 — 2:15 p.m.** | **Women, Minorities and the Poor**Moderator: ***Sam Beard***, Economic Security 2000 ***Star Parker***, Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) ***Eloise Anderson***, Claremont Institute ***Michael Tanner***, Cato Institute ***Jagadeesh Gokhale***, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, [Social Security Privatization and the Poor,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/gokhale.pdf)” (PDF, 12 pp, 41 kb) |
| **2:15 — 2:30 p.m.** | Break |
| **2:30 — 3:15 p.m.** | **World Round-Up** ***José Piñera***, Cato Institute, “[Toward A World of Worker-Capitalists,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/pinera.pdf)” (PDF, 21 pp, 49 kb) |
| **3:15 — 4:00 p.m.** | **A Bipartisan Approach to Social Security Reform**Introduction: ***Wade Dokken***, American Skandia ***Rep. Charles Stenholm (D‑TX)*** |
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| **4:00 — 5:00 p.m.** | **Reception** |
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| **Wednesday, February 7, 2001** |
| **8:00 — 9:00 a.m.** | **Registration** |
| **9:00 — 9:10 a.m.** | **Opening Remarks** ***Edward Crane***, President, Cato Institute |
| **9:10 a.m. — 10:15 a.m.** | **The Politics of Privatization**Moderator: ***Deroy Murdock***, syndicated columnist ***Michael Barone***, U.S. News & World Report ***John Zogby***, Zogby International ***Scott Rasmussen***, Rasmussen Research ***William McInturff***, Public Opinion Strategies, “[Turning Questions Into Answers,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/mcinturff.pdf)” (PDF, 13 pp, 164 kb) |
| **10:15 — 10:30 a.m.** | **Break** |
| **10:30 — 11:45 a.m.** | **Making the Transition**Moderator: ***William Niskanen***, Cato Institute ***Andrew Samwick***, Dartmouth College ***Stephen Entin***, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation ***Peter Ferrara***, George Mason University/​Cato Institute ***William Shipman***, State Street Global Advisors |
| **11:45 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.** | **Lunch** |
| **12:30 — 1:15 p.m.** | **Luncheon Address** ***Thomas Saving***, Texas A&M/Social Security Board of Trustees |
| **1:15 — 2:30 p.m.** | **Risk and Regulation**Moderator: ***Andrew Biggs***, Cato Institute ***Shane Chalke***, Annu​ityNet​.Com, “[Private Sector Alternatives Mitigating Participant Risk,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/chalke.pdf)” (PDF, 7 pp, 225 kb) ***Don Ezra***, Frank Russell Company, “[Individual Accounts in Social Security: Practical Aspects of Risk and Regulation,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/ezra.pdf)” (PDF, 11 pp, 684 kb) ***Gordon Boronow***, American Skandia, “[Speech for the Cato Social Security Conference,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/boronow.pdf)” (PDF, 2 pp, 8 kb) ***Milton Ezrati***, Lord Abbett, “[A Realistic View of Risk and Regulatory Needs,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/ezrati.pdf)” (PDF, 10 pp, 23 kb) |
| **2:30 — 2:45 p.m.** | **Break** |
| **2:45 — 4:00 p.m.** | **Administering Individual Accounts**Moderator: ***Charles Blahous***, Alliance for Worker Retirement Security ***Daniel Lederman***, Synergy Group Inc., “[Operating Models for Pension System Reforms,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/lederman.pdf)” (PDF, 39 pp, 197 kb) “[Administering Individual Accounts,](https://www.cato.org/event-transcripts/ssconf01/papers/ledermanpps.pdf)” (PDF, 18 pp, 308 kb) ***David John***, Heritage Foundation ***Elizabeth Liess***, Securities Industry Association ***Gary Ferrier***, University of Arkansas |
| **4:00 — 4:15 p.m.** | **Closing Remarks** ***Michael Tanner***, Cato Institute |

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