Publication

Directions and Criteria for Choice in Generational Policy

Institute for Reform Issue Brief 2026-38 (October 19, 2026), Part 10 of the "Politics and Generations" series, asks what should be asked first when evaluating generational policy, on the basis of the evidence established by the nine preceding parts. Three things should be asked first: to whom a system applies and who is not included in the population on which statistics are calculated (the denominator); which groups are hidden in the aggregate indicators of an age group; and how the income of people to whom the age criteria of the retirement age and pensions do not directly apply continues. Which option is better is not decided by the data of the nine parts.