Distributive Effects of Social Security and Pension Benefits
As the public debates the danger of the increasing federal deficit, social security is once again receiving public attention. Should the government de-emphasize social security and emphasize employer-provided pensions as a vehicle for providing retirement income? Before policymakers face this question, it is important to evaluate the role of these programs in shaping the level and the distribution of income among the retired. This article presents findings from a study based on the 1982 New Beneficiary Survey. The study found that, compared with employer-provided pension benefits, social security benefits not only assure a relatively higher level of income to economically disadvantaged demographic groups of recent retirees but also are significantly more effective in equalizing income distribution among a recent cohort of retirees. Policy implications are drawn from the study's findings.
Reported reasons for retirement: a study of recently retired workers.
The normal retirement age in the United States is gradually increasing from 65 to 67 (by the year 2027) as provided by the 1983 Amendments to the Social Security Act. One can raise the question, "Who will be the most affected by this change?" This article presents the findings from a study that investigated the relationship between the primary reason given by recently retired workers for their retirement and their economic and demographic backgrounds. A logistic regression analysis was performed using data from the 1982 New Beneficiary Survey concerning involuntary reasons. A major finding was that economically disadvantaged workers tended to retire for involuntary reasons. Therefore, policymakers need to consider the establishment of policies that would protect such workers from the adverse financial impact of the increase in the normal retirement age.
Cytoplsmic uridine phosphorylase of rat liver. Characterization and kinetics.
Abstract Uridine phosphorylase (uridine:orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.3) of rat liver cytoplasm has been purified 1900-fold. Initial velocity patterns of the phosphorolysis of uridine or deoxyuridine and of the synthesis of uridine indicated a sequential mechanism. Product inhibition patterns with uracil or ribose 1-phosphate as inhibitors were consistent with an "ordered Bi Bi" reaction in which inorganic phosphate is the first substrate to bind to the enzyme and ribose 1-phosphate the last product to leave the enzyme. The most highly purified enzyme fractions still retained uridine-, deoxyuridine-, and thymidine-cleaving activities in the ratio of 10:7:1 at pH 7.4. The fractions separated into a major and a minor band of protein on electrophoresis in phosphate buffer. Aging of the enzyme with loss of activity resulted in an increase in the proportion of the minor band. The pH optimum of the enzyme for uridine cleavage was 8.2, for deoxyuridine cleavage, 6.5, and for uridine synthesis, 8.5. Uridine or deoxyuridine synthesis was inhibited 50% in the presence of 1 mm uracil. The enzyme did not catalyze the direct transfer of ribose from uridine to uracil in the absence of phosphate. Uridine protected the enzyme to a greater degree than phosphate against inhibition by o-iodosobenzoate. Thus, at least one sulfhydryl group and possibly three are present at or near the active site. Uridine cleavage, uridine synthesis, and deoxyuridine cleavage were inhibited by deoxyglucosylthymine. The phosphorolysis of deoxyuridine and thymidine by thymidine phosphorylase, also purified from rat liver cytoplasm, was not inhibited by deoxyglucosylthymine. The molecular weights of both uridine and thymidine phosphorylases were estimated to be 110,000.