What We Do

Nonpartisan approach—We’re part of a four-decades-old research institution dedicated to injecting reason and rock-solid evidence into policy debates. 

Modeling capabilities—No other private research organization can rival our capacity to make projections and show how policies affect all categories of Americans.

Analytical prowess—Our experts have the skills and perspective to make sense of complex problems and changing trends.

Big-picture thinking—We collaborate with colleagues across the Urban Institute to figure out how retirement issues intersect with employment, income, savings, health, family welfare, housing, philanthropy, government budgets, and other issues.

Policy design innovations—We use our research results and analytical powers to design creative but practical policy options and assess emerging ideas across the political spectrum.

Timely practical policy research—We combine our commitment to objectivity with our determination to propose the policy options best supported by the facts we find.

Social Security reform—Given the system’s long-run financial problems, change seems inevitable. We’re comparing the many options to find those that best safeguard retirement incomes, keep benefits affordable, reward work and saving, and protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Older workers—We’re assessing the challenges and opportunities created by our aging workforce, searching for arrangements that encourage all workers to flourish.

Future medical and long-term care expenses—We’re projecting how rising costs, technological advances, and shifting demographics will affect care’s affordability to both families and the government.

Changing pension landscape—As Americans increasingly move into 401(k)-type plans and out of traditional pensions, we’re exploring how well these retirement plans are working and how they can work better.