Application: Retirement

Retirement is a modern concept. In many parts of the world, retirement is not a part of the life course. In Western cultures such as Germany and Hong Kong, most people can expect to retire comfortably.

Thirty years ago, the majority of workers in the United States were enrolled in retirement plans. Those retirement plans provided a set amount of money for the rest of a person's life. Today, less than 25% of the workforce can expect to retire with such a plan. In fact, half of all workers have no job-related retirement plans at all, and can expect to rely only on Social Security and on the amount of money they save.

In this Application, you will compare and contrast retirement opportunities between two cultures. You will choose either Germany or Hong Kong, and compare and contrast the culture of that country to the culture of the United States. Then you will propose at least two government policies that might promote positive retirement outcomes for all Americans based on the Learning Resources or other resources you have developed.

The assignment (1-2 pages):

Describe the potential positive and negative outcomes that are predictable in Germany or Hong Kong and in the United States. Describe what individuals might do in each culture to protect themselves from falling into poverty. Conclude your Application with at least two suggestions for policies (taken from the Learning Resources or other resources you find) that would help to keep most Americans out of poverty during retirement.