The Growth of Social Security: Electoral Push or Political Pull?
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Economic Inquiry
Volume
28
Publication Date
1990
First Page
109
Last Page
132
Abstract
The Social Security program has grown more than a thousand-fold since its inception. Even after the increased number of retired persons and inflation are accounted for, average real Social Security benefit levels more than tripled from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. What accounts for this growth? This paper finds that increased retirement benefit levels are generated by changes in the constraints faced by the median voter rather than by changes in the political power of social interest groups. The results suggest that the median voter has a finite planning horizon.
Recommended Citation
The Growth of Social Security: Electoral Push or Political Pull?” (with Roger D. Congleton), Economic Inquiry 28 (January 1990), pp. 109–132.
