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Conference

Social Security Symposium: A Global Perspective

Date and Time
-
Location
Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
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Featuring
Andrew G. Biggs circle crop
Andrew G. Biggs

Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Senator Bill Cassidy photo
Senator Bill Cassidy

(R‑LA)

Philip Cross circle crop
Philip Cross

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center

Jason Fichtner circle
Jason Fichtner

Chief Economist, Bipartisan Policy Center

Rachel Greszler circle crop
Rachel Greszler

Senior Research Fellow, Roe Institute at the Heritage Foundation

Michael Littlewood
Michael Littlewood

Honorary Academic, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, University of Auckland

Kristoffer Lundberg
Kristoffer Lundberg

Deputy Director, Policy Analysis Unit, Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

Andrew Moylan
Andrew Moylan

Vice President of Public Finance, Arnold Ventures

Martin Werdling
Martin Werding

Chair, Social Policy and Public Finance, Ruhr University Bochum

As we approach the 90th anniversary of the US Social Security program in 2025, and as the program’s trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2033, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. Social Security reform is essential to preserving the program’s ability to provide critical economic security to vulnerable seniors by averting indiscriminate benefit cuts, which are scheduled to occur by law when the trust fund goes to zero. Sensible reforms will ensure the program can meet this pivotal role without imposing undue debt burdens or excessive taxes on younger generations. There are further opportunities to modernize Social Security to enhance individual liberty and reduce disincentives to work and saving that undermine US economic growth.

This symposium will foster insightful discussions on the various dimensions of Social Security reform. By bringing together a diverse group of US and international experts, we will explore shared challenges and identify global lessons to inform US reform options. The insights and lessons from our conversations will equip US legislators with informed perspectives, innovative solutions, and evidence-based strategies to reforming Social Security over the next decade. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

Schedule

8:45 - 9:15 AM

Breakfast

9:15 - 9:30 AM

Opening Remarks

Senator Bill Cassidy (R‑LA)

9:30 - 10:15 AM

Panel I: US Social Security and OECD Retirement Systems: A Comparison

Andrew G. Biggs, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy, Cato Institute
Moderated by Veronique de Rugy, George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center

10:20 - 11:05 AM

Panel II: Lessons from the Canadian and New Zealand Pension Systems

Philip Cross, Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Michael Littlewood, Honorary Academic and Former Co-Director, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, University of Auckland
Moderated by Chris Edwards, Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies, Cato Institute

11:10 - 11:55 AM

Panel III: Lessons from the German and Swedish Pension Systems

Kristoffer Lundberg, Deputy Director, Policy Analysis Units, Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs
Martin Werding, Chair, Social Policy and Public Finance, Ruhr University Bochum
Moderated by Romina Boccia, Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy, Cato Institute

12:00 - 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 - 2:30 PM

Panel IV: Securing the Future: Rethinking US Social Security

Jason Fichtner, Chief Economist, Bipartisan Policy Center
Rachel Greszler, Senior Research Fellow, Workforce and Public Finance, Roe Institute at The Heritage Foundation
Moderated by Andrew Moylan, Vice President of Public Finance, Arnold Ventures