ICI Viewpoints Content

As the U.S. Treasury reaches the limits of its borrowing authority this week, markets and the media are focusing on the risk that the United States will default on its debt and fail to pay interest or principal on maturing Treasury securities, perhaps before the end of October.

“Debt ceiling follies” certainly do put retirement savers and their assets at risk. On that, ICI agrees with a recent Washington Post blog.

Fifth in a series of posts about retirement plans and the policy proposals surrounding them. In previous Viewpoints posts, I explained that retirement contributions are neither tax deductions nor tax exclusions, but rather are tax deferrals. I also explained why, in my opinion, the...

Fourth in a series of posts about retirement plans and the policy proposals surrounding them. In The Tax Benefits and Revenue Costs of Tax Deferral and in two previous Viewpoints posts (post one and post two), I explained the benefits that workers get from deferring tax on...

Third in a series of posts about retirement plans and the policy proposals surrounding them. In two previous Viewpoints posts (post one and post two), I explained the benefits that workers get from deferring tax on compensation set aside for retirement. 

This week, I testified before Congress at a hearing on the issue of money market funds and recent regulatory proposals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that would amend the rules governing these funds. The hearing provided an excellent opportunity to continue to...

Second in a series of posts about retirement plans and the policy proposals surrounding them. In a previous Viewpoints post, I discussed the difference between tax deferral—the tax treatment applied to retirement savings—and tax deductions and exclusions, such as the mortgage interest...

First in a series of posts about retirement plans and the policy proposals surrounding them. In today’s fiscal and political climate, taxes are never far from politicians’ minds. Whether to achieve comprehensive tax reform or to raise revenue to meet budget deficits, members of...

In a noteworthy development for anyone following the debate around financial transaction taxes (FTTs), the Council of the European Union Legal Service has issued a legal opinion regarding the FTT proposal under consideration by some EU member countries.

The concerns of the Center for American Progress about the 401(k) system (covered August 20 in “A Better Way to Save for Retirement?”) are mistaken.