Research & Analysis

This report analyzes the effectiveness of defined benefit (DB) pensions on teacher retention and productivity finds that pensions play a critical role in recruiting and retaining productive teachers.

This report finds that New York City’s defined benefit pension plans can deliver the same retirement income at nearly 40% lower cost than defined contribution 401(k)-type individual accounts.

This study analyzes seven state retirement systems that offer a choice between DB and DC plans to find that workers strongly prefer DB plans over DC plans.

This report examines selected statewide public pension plans to identify common elements that led these plans to remain well-funded despite two severe economic downturns.

This report examines why DB pension plan coverage has declined for private sector workers. It finds that funding volatility is the primary culprit, not pension costs.

This nationwide public opinion poll measures how Americans feel about their financial security in retirement and assesses their views on policies that could improve their retirement outlook.

This report examines the compensation gap between employees of state & local governments and comparable private sector employees. Analysis spanning two decades shows the pay gap has widened in recent years.

This report provided a summary of NIRS’ inaugural policy conference, which brought leaders of retirement policy in order to encourage productive dialogue and reach a definitive conclusion.

This report provides the national economic impacts of public and private pension plans, as well as the impact of state and local plans on a state-by-state basis.

This report calculates the impact of pensions for reducing the risk of elder American poverty and hardship, particularly for households headed by women and racial/ethnic minority groups.

This report examines the specific challenges facing women in retirement and assesses the policies that may help increase retirement security for women.

This report finds that pensions are an effective tool to meet the objectives of employers, employees, and taxpayers and should not mimic the private sector trend away from pensions.

This nationwide public opinion poll measures how Americans feel about their financial security in retirement and assesses their views on policies that could improve their retirement outlook.

Using data on public pension plan investment patterns from the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Census Bureau, this report analyzes how public pension plans invest, in both bull and bear markets.

This issue brief explores important factors public employers should keep in mind when making decisions about their retirement programs during a weak economy.