President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935. It was designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935. It was designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

For years experts have warned about a looming crisis facing the Social Security system. According to current estimates, the program will become insolvent by 2034, at which time benefits would be automatically cut.

During the campaign, President-elect Trump positioned himself as an advocate of the program, which remains highly popular among voters. But economist Teresa Ghilarducci says that if you dig into his proposals, a different picture emerges.

A recent analysis shows his policies would move up the date of insolvency from 11 years to 9 years. “It’s kind of a shocker,” she says. “He’s very bold in his policies.”

Teresa Ghilarducci is a professor of economics at The New School and author of the new book “Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy.” She joins Diane to explain the urgency of addressing Social Security’s finances and why Trump’s proposals would make the situation worse.

Guests

  • Teresa Ghilarducci Professor of economics at The New School, and author of "Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy"

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