Private pensions and public policy.

The article focuses on the effects of private pensions on public policy. Social policy analysts have not traditionally been concerned with the pension system for workers retired from private industry. careful study. The following three factors make the private pension system a subject of continuing concern to those analyzing, planning, and developing social policy: This large private benefit system has an enormous effect on the public well-being because of its magnitude, cost, and power; Past and present operation of the system clearly illustrates the negative consequences of a high degree of selectivity in pension programs; The economic impact of large existing private systems that distribute benefits, such as this one, must be taken into account in any significant efforts to redistribute resources in the society. At present over 28 million workers, or more than half the active labor force, are covered by private pension plans.