Teresa Ghilarducci
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tghilarducci.bsky.social
Teresa Ghilarducci
@tghilarducci.bsky.social
530 followers 94 following 81 posts
Labor economist focusing on #retirement security. Director, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA)
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tghilarducci.bsky.social
“Automatic stabilizers” like unemployment insurance, healthcare access & Social Security are essential — not optional. The LA Times argues that bold leadership must restore the idea of government as the solution, not the problem.
Read the article: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Commentary: How can Newsom stay relevant? Become the new FDR
The spotlight of Proposition 50 has gone cold. How can Gov. Gavin Newsom remain nationally relevant in his run for the White House?
www.latimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
Now in Generations Journal - The new article by Frank Heiland, Joelle Saad-Lessler & Karen Richman explains how the RET affects income and work decisions and why it’s often misunderstood by those most impacted.
generations.asaging.org/the-social-s...
The Social Security Retirement Earnings Test - ASA Generations
What lower-income workers and retirees need to know.
generations.asaging.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
"Understanding Late Arriving Immigrants’ Social Security Eligibility and Retirement Security"
Almost half of Social Security “never beneficiaries” are immigrants who arrived later in life—working longer, yet often excluded from key benefits.

Read more: generations.asaging.org/understandin...
Understanding Late Arriving Immigrants’ Social Security Eligibility and Retirement Security - ASA Generations
This overlooked group faces steep barriers to finding work and then to accessing social safety net programs.
generations.asaging.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
Formerly incarcerated elders are being left behind again—this time by the Social Security system. New research by christian gonzález-rivera & Ruth Finkelstein exposes the barriers and offers real policy fixes.
Read Left Behind Twice (Oct 22, 2025): generations.asaging.org/left-behind-...
Left Behind Twice: Fixing Social Security for Formerly Incarcerated Elders - ASA Generations
Older adults leaving prison face a Catch-22 of bureaucracy, digital ignorance and limited help when applying for benefits.
generations.asaging.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
Who pays the price of unpaid eldercare? Research in Generations Journal finds women & caregivers of color lose the most work time & financial security.
@jessforden.bsky.social @tghilarducci.bsky.social
generations.asaging.org/unseen-costs...
Unseen Costs: How Providing Eldercare Impacts Work and Economic Security - ASA Generations
Women are more likely to receive care, and many other findings from a study of HRS, ATUS, and CPS data.
generations.asaging.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
Millions of Americans care for aging loved ones — but who cares for them? Our piece explores how unpaid caregivers manage retirement and financial strain, and why the U.S. needs to investment in long-term care.
@jessforden.bsky.social @erinsimmons.bsky.social
generations.asaging.org/caregiving-a...
Caregiving and Retirement: Social Security and the Financial Strain of Eldercare - ASA Generations
Caregivers often turn to Social Security payments to make ends meet, leaving them in a vulnerable position later in life.
generations.asaging.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
A 2.8% Social Security COLA ≈ $52/month. But most retirees say it won’t cover rising costs. Why the COLA is failing:
- Inflation outpaces the raise
- Medicare premiums offset gains
- Wrong inflation index for seniors
Read more: www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...
#SocialSecurity #COLA #RetirementCrisis
Today’s Social Security COLA Is Inadequate For Three Reasons
The 2026 Social Security COLA fails to match inflation because benefits lag, Medicare costs rise, CPI-W is quirky and older women lose most.
www.forbes.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
New in Generations: NYRDRC’s Jennie Kaufman & Na Yin explore how older workers with disabilities navigate home care needs—and the strain this places on families & benefit systems. Read “Contending With Home Care Needs After a Work Disability” here:

generations.asaging.org/contending-w...
Contending With Home Care Needs After a Work Disability - ASA Generations
Who tends to become disabled, what benefits are available for caregiving, and how might benefits impact household income long-term?
generations.asaging.org
October 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
karthikmanickam.bsky.social
New easy-to-read publication out: Preliminary findings from mixed methods work on student debt and retirement, conducted by myself and @erinsimmons.bsky.social under @tghilarducci.bsky.social 's team at @scepa-economics.bsky.social and @nssrnews.bsky.social

generations.asaging.org/student-debt...
Student Debt Is Not Just for Kids - ASA Generations
A mixed-methods analysis of the impact of student debt on retirement security and claiming age
generations.asaging.org
October 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
The people who care for our loved ones often do so without protections or benefits. A new piece from Ruth Finkelstein and colleagues explores: What happens when vital care work goes ‘off the books’? #DirectCare #CareEconomy #Aging
generations.asaging.org/the-complex-...
The Complex Impact of ‘On’ and ‘Off the Books’ Work - ASA Generations
Estimating what we miss about direct care workers’ employment, earnings, and retirement savings.
generations.asaging.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Teresa Ghilarducci
scepa-economics.bsky.social
The SCEPA team is so proud to have work featured in the latest edition of Generations Journal, "Transformative Approaches to Social Security Benefits" on who Social Security leaves behind and why that must change. This is a call for equity, evidence & action.
generations.asaging.org/publications...
Transformative Approaches to Social Security Benefits - ASA Generations
Generations Journal, vol. 49, no. 3 (Fall 2025)
generations.asaging.org
October 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
President Trump’s weakening support among voters over 65 reflects growing economic anxiety, as nearly half of older workers approach retirement without enough savings to maintain their standard of living or even stay above the poverty line.

www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump’s approval rating plunges with baby boomers
Baby boomers were critical to Trump’s 2024 victory, when 51 percent of the age group voted for him.
www.newsweek.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
The job market is worsening. Uncertainty from tariff policy & lack of investment outside AI is driving a slowdown. Long-term unemployment is rising—and the true jobless rate is worse than reported. Don’t expect improvement soon. #economy #jobs #recession
youtube.com/watch?v=zd7k2KUQoZg
Unemployed woman says search for work has been "impossibly difficult"
YouTube video by CBS Evening News
youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
Too many still believe the U.S. doesn't have a retirement crisis. But new research shows Late Boomers, Gen X, & Millennials face a far riskier future. I spoke with Dan Doonan about why the "don't worry" narrative is dangerous. Our Q&A in @forbes.com :
www.forbes.com/sites/dandoo...
Is America’s Retirement System Failing Future Retirees?
As America ages and income inequality deepens, concerns about retirement security are mounting.
www.forbes.com
September 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
Who owns the economy?
www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...
Labor Day 2025: Who Owns The Economy?
After nationwide repression of unions, wages fell more in markets where unions had previously delivered larger gains. When unions are weakened, pay falls.
www.forbes.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
Millions rely on Medicaid for long-term care -- but July’s OBBB could push that burden onto families. Our latest Retirement Tracker breaks down how reduced funding and new barriers will have profound effects for older and disabled Americans.
www.economicpolicyresearch.org/resource-lib...
Medicaid Cuts Shift Long-Term Care Costs to Families - The New School SCEPA
By: Jessica Forden with Teresa Ghilarducci and The SCEPA Team Download the PDF here. This policy note is part of SCEPA’s “Tracking the Retirement Crisis” series. This series was made possible in ...
www.economicpolicyresearch.org
August 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
Yesterday’s inflation report showed a 0.2% increase - expected, but still significant. What’s more troubling, though, is a growing risk that’s not about inflation itself, but about the integrity of how it’s measured. Read more here

www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...
Inflation Is Up .2%: Will Trump Now Rig The CPI?
Normally, a higher inflation raye would spark somewhat boring debates about Fed policy and consumer sentiment. This time, new danger lurks.
www.forbes.com
August 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
I recently sat down with Bob Powell, Decoding Retirement podcast host, to discuss how to prepare for the coming retirement crisis. You can read more from our conversation here, or click the link in the article to listen!

www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...
The Looming Retirement Crisis Is Real And So Are The Solutions
There’s no shortage of turmoil around Social Security and retirement security these days. If you listen to Americans—Republicans, Democrats, the rich, the poor, the very online and the very offline—yo...
www.forbes.com
July 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
SCEPA’s latest report reveals that Late Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennials are retiring under significantly worse conditions than Early Baby Boomers. The report highlights the shifts that have eroded retirement security for later generations.
www.economicpolicyresearch.org/resource-lib...
Retirement Then, Now, and Next - The New School SCEPA
by Teresa Ghilarducci and the SCEPA Team Download the PDF here. This policy note is part of SCEPA’s “Tracking the Retirement Crisis” series. This series was made possible in part through the gene...
www.economicpolicyresearch.org
July 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
“Like so much else in the budget bill, the tax break as it might apply to Social Security benefits goes mostly to wealthier taxpayers. That’s because of the way Social Security benefits are taxed.” - @hiltzikm.bsky.social www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Commentary: Social Security sends millions of Americans a misleading and 'blatantly political' message
The Social Security Administration lied about the GOP budget bill in a message to beneficiaries. Can we trust anything it tells us in the future?
www.latimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
I recently sat with Sachin Shah, CEO of Brookfield Wealth Solutions to take a deep dive into the structural challenges of retirement—and how guaranteed income for life can be part of the answer. Listen to our conversation here:

www.brookfield.com/news-insight...
Bridging the Retirement Gap with Sachin Shah and Teresa Ghilarducci | Brookfield
www.brookfield.com
July 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
Social Security's new chief sent out a partisan, misleading email celebrating Trump’s unpopular “Big, Beautiful Bill.” It falsely claims tax relief for seniors—when in fact, the bill doesn’t touch Social Security taxes and could actually lead to cuts. Read more here
www.forbes.com/sites/teresa...
New Social Security Commissioner Politicizes The Trusted Agency
trends and policies are happening to Social Security that suggests the agency is becoming more politicized
www.forbes.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
My colleague Ruth Finkelstein, professor of public health at Hunter College, remembers in excruciating detail the moment the Social Security Administration cancelled funding for the 25 year old Retirement and Disability Research Consortium.
www.healthbeat.org/newyork/2025...
Social Security Administration ends NY research consortium. Here's what that means for New Yorkers.
Almost 4 million New Yorkers collect Social Security benefits, and over half a million rely on it for more than 90% of their income. Trump's administration cut funding for a NY research center that an...
www.healthbeat.org
July 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
New research from SCEPA reveals how Americans are reacting to threats to Social Security in early 2025—and what it says about a deeper, ongoing retirement crisis. By listening to people, we see how trust erodes and futures are put at risk.
www.economicpolicyresearch.org/resource-lib...
Loss of Trust in Social Security Jeopardizes American's Retirement Plans - The New School SCEPA
by Teresa Ghilarducci and the SCEPA Team.  Download the PDF here.This policy note is part of SCEPA’s “Tracking the Retirement Crisis” series. This series was made possible in part through the gen...
www.economicpolicyresearch.org
June 16, 2025 at 4:27 PM
tghilarducci.bsky.social
We stand by our use of relative poverty measures—an international standard vital for assessing poverty in wealthy nations. They highlight the struggles older Americans face that absolute metrics miss; crucial for a fair discussion on elder poverty.

www.economicpolicyresearch.org/resource-lib...
Lowballing Elder Poverty: Who Counts As “Poor” In America? - The New School SCEPA
Relative senior poverty levels are more than double the official U.S. rate. Issue Brief | Official U.S. poverty rates significantly undercount America’s elderly poor. According to internationally-reco...
www.economicpolicyresearch.org
June 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM