The market to the rescue? The promise - and price - of the new social security investment proposals

Three new plans for reforming Social Security financing recommend investing a portion of future payroll deductions in the financial markets. The plans aim to shore up Social Security's trust fund, improve individual returns, and enhance national saving. This analysis concludes, however, that the effectiveness of the plans would depend largely on individual saving and investment decisions, government fiscal policy, and developments in the financial markets. In addition, the proposed reforms could expose the program to unprecedented market risk.