Managing the Crisis in Public Pensions

EVENTS RECENT

Managing the Crisis in Public Pensions image
Managing the Crisis in Public Pensions
  • Start Date:
    Friday, September 24, 2010
  • End Date:
    Friday, September 24, 2010
  • Time:
    12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Location:
    George Mason Law School, Room 120
    3301 N. Fairfax Dr.
    Arlington, VA 22201
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States have promised public workers a secure retirement, but recent events and new studies have shined light on an acute crisis. Public pensions are radically underfunded and fundamental reform is no longer an option but a necessity. State policy makers can no longer avoid addressing this shortfall with many public employees approaching retirement. The future fiscal stability of states is inextricably intertwined with the retirement security of public employees. This panel will address what steps policy makers must consider, and what pitfalls to avoid on the road to reform.

In this panel discussion we will address the following questions:

  • What is the current state of public pensions around the country? Who is doing well, and which states are in the most critical need of reform to their public pension systems?
  • Where have reforms already been made in public sector public pension plans, both domestically and globally?  What reforms have been successful?
  • What are the first steps states that facing severely underfunded public sector pension programs should take?

Speakers:

Eileen Norcross, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Andrew Biggs, PhD, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

*Stay tuned for more panelists.

If you have any questions regarding this event please contact Kathleen O’Hearn at kohearn@gmu.edu or at 703.993.8426

Lunch will be provided.

 

Photo courtesy of Danny Dougherty of Stateline.org.

Eileen Norcross image  

Eileen Norcross

  • Senior Research Fellow
Eileen Norcross is a senior research fellow with the Social Change Project and the lead researcher on the State and Local Policy Project. Her work focuses on the question of how societies sustain prosperity and the role civil society plays in supporting economic resiliency. Her areas of research include fiscal federalism and institutions, state and local governments, and economic development.