This classroom page expands on ideas from the Episode 10 conversation with Professor Sita Slavov of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, who studies retirement, aging and Social Security and has worked at the White House Council of Economic Advisers. It was Aly Muhammad Dadwani's first episode as solo host.
The episode moves from why an aging population is one of society's biggest challenges, through why delaying Social Security is like buying an annuity, what r-star is and why low interest rates hit mid-career workers hardest, to what happens if Congress waits until the trust fund runs short in 2032. The resources below turn those threads into things you can learn from, think with, explore, or teach. Nothing here is financial advice.
Start here · Activity
When Should You Claim?
Three people, three retirement decisions. Work through when each should start Social Security and see the trade-offs. Not financial advice.
Start the activityLearn
Student-friendly explainers.
- LearnEssay
Planning for a Longer Life
Who Sita Slavov is, why she sees an aging population as one of society's biggest challenges, and the big ideas of the conversation.
Intermediate9 min read
- LearnExplainer
Social Security in Plain English
How America's retirement system works, why it is under pressure, and what the 2032 date means.
Beginner7 min read
- LearnExplainer
Annuities, r-star and Your Savings
Two ideas from the episode, explained simply: why delaying Social Security is like buying an annuity, and why low interest rates matter to savers.
Intermediate8 min read
Think
Questions, thought experiments, and challenges.
Explore
Reading lists and further resources.
Teach
Worksheets and classroom-friendly materials.