Policy uncertainty is a type of aggregate risk that has important economic and welfare implications. In this article, I develop a simple general equilibrium overlapping generations model in which households are uncertain as to the type and timing of an inevitable Social Security reform. I document how households’ expectations over the path of future policy influences their behavior. I find that the economic and welfare effects of policy uncertainty are highly sensitive to households’ beliefs over the path of future policy.

Along with health, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) evaluates worklimiting disability by considering vocational factors including age, education, and past work experience. As the number of SSDI applicants and awards has increased, these vocational criteria are increasingly important to acceptances and denials. A unique state-level dataset allows us to estimate how these factors relate to the SSDI award process. These estimates are used to asses how changes to the demographic and occupational composition have contributed to awards trends. In our results, the prevalence of workers in their 50s are especially important. Further, increasing educational attainment lowers applications and vocational awards. JEL CODES: E62, I13

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