The number of Americans eligible to receive Social Security benefits will increase from forty-five million to nearly eighty million in the next twenty years. Retirement systems must therefore adapt to meet the demands of the largest aging population in our nation's history. In Developments in the Economics of Aging, David A. Wise and a distinguished group of analysts examine the economic issues that will confront policy makers as they seek to design policies to protect the economic and physical health of these older Americans. The volume looks at such topics as factors influencing w.

Papers presented at a conference held in Carefree, Ariz., in May 2005.

Retirement saving. Life-cycle asset allocation strategies and the distribution of 401(k) retirement wealth / James M. Poterba ... [et al.], comment: Robert J. Willis ; Reducing the complexity costs of 401(k) participation through quick enrollment / James J. Choi, David Laibson, and Brigitte C. Madrian, comment: Jonathan Skinner -- Intergenerational transfers. Population aging and intergenerational transfers: introducing age into national accounts / Andrew Mason ... [et al.], comment: Andrew Samwick -- Retirement behavior. The effect of large capital gains or losses on retirement / Michael D. Hurd, Monika Reti, and Susann Rohwedder, comment: Courtney Coile ; Early retirement, social security and well-being in Germany / Axel Börsch-Supan and Hendrik Jürges -- 4. Health and economic circumstances. How do the better educated do it? : socioeconomic status and the ability to cope with underlying impairment / David M. Cutler, Mary Beth Landrum, and Kate A. Stewart, comment: Michael D. Hurd ; Why do Europeans smoke more than Americans? / David M. Cutler and Edward L. Glaeser ; Trends in prescription drug use by the disabled elderly / Jay Bhattacharya, Alan M. Garber, and Thomas Macurdy, comment: Jonathan Skinner ; Health and well-being in Udaipur and South Africa / Anne Case and Angus Deaton, comment: Amitabh Chandra -- 3. The SES health gradient on both sides of the Atlantic / James Banks ... [et al.].