Survey: Public Supports Guaranteed Pensions
Nearly nine out of 10 Americans believe that everyone should have access to a defined-benefit pension plan. Most also support creative government policies that would help make this dream a reality. These are some of the findings of a recent national public opinion survey of more than 800 Americans undertaken for the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS). On a conference call announcing the survey results, NIRS Executive Director Beth Almeida said she hopes that the survey can serve as an opinion benchmark for policymakers as they attempt to improve the fading retirement prospects of millions of people.
According to the survey, 85 percent of the public view retirement security as a shared responsibility between individuals, employers and the government. People believe the three-legged retirement stool of the past, consisting of Social Security, pension plans and private savings, is still the best approach to meeting retirement needs in the 21st century.
