Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSocial Security Pumps $2 Into US Economy for Every Benefit Dollar Spent
Just as Food Stamps stimulate the economy by creating about $1.80 of economic activity for every dollar of Food Stamps spent, Social Secuity pumps up job-generating and business activity by about $2 for every dollar recipients spend. This is according to a new study by the AARP:
In short, Social Security is a vital component of a vibrant economy. Florida is just one example of a state that would be devastated without the delivery of monthly Social Security checks. However, the entire United States economy would be seriously harmed.
A new report by the AARP Public Policy Institute, "Social Security's Impact on the National Economy," found that Social Security adds more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy each year. People who receive Social Security benefits are not saving that money for a rainy day. They're spending it on goods and services pumping it back into the economy. We have to remember that the typical older American has an income of about $22,000 a year, and Social Security accounts for about half of a typical older family's income.
Businesses use the income to purchase more goods and services, to realize profits and to hire more employees. Those employees, in turn, spend their wages on more goods and services, which creates more spending and income for more people. This creates a powerful multiplier effect that benefits the economy, businesses and workers. In fact, our report found that every dollar in Social Security benefits paid out generates about $2 of total output for the U.S. economy.
In short, Social Security is a vital component of a vibrant economy. Florida is just one example of a state that would be devastated without the delivery of monthly Social Security checks. However, the entire United States economy would be seriously harmed.
THE REST:
http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18268-social-security-pumps-$2-into-us-economy-for-every-benefit-dollar-spent
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 852 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Social Security Pumps $2 Into US Economy for Every Benefit Dollar Spent (Original Post)
Triana
Oct 2013
OP
Scuba
(53,475 posts)1. Food stamps are also an excellent investment. Tax cuts for the wealthy, not so much ...
Recursion
(56,582 posts)2. That's why I like SNAP and UI
It's "stimulus-in-a-can" if you have the levels right: during a recession, mandatory spending goes up, during a recovery, it goes down. No need to even go to Congress, and it's giving money to people who spend it.
Having the right levels is difficult as long as there are Republicans (personally I think they should be high enough that fear of the mandatory government spending is an actual deterrent to businesses to shed jobs), but at least it's something.