IWPR to Release Report Series on Impact of Recession on Americans' Economic Security, Retirement Prospects, and Attitudes on Social Security & Medicare

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released today by the Institute for Women's Policy Research:

What:  The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) will release two timely and critical reports with data from the IWPR/Rockefeller Foundation Survey of Economic Security. On the Edge: Economic Insecurity After the Great Recession shows that the impacts of the recession have been both broad and deep. Many Americans—women and single mothers in particular—have been forced to make difficult decisions such as not filling medical prescriptions, not visiting the doctor, or not taking their children to the doctor, 'doubling up' or sharing housing with others,  withdrawing money from retirement accounts, or using food stamps or simply going hungry.

The second report in the series, Retirement on the Edge, shows Americans are under enormous financial stress and are worried about their retirement years. The survey findings also show resounding support for Social Security and Medicare across lines of gender, age, race/ethnicity, and party affiliation. Most Americans do not believe Social Security to be in crisis, very few support cuts to either Medicare or Social Security, and a majority support Social Security benefit increases—a perspective that appears to be out of line with the thinking of many policymakers and candidates for office.

The survey on which the report is based contains several innovative questions that provide new data on several topics:  the extent and severity of unemployment in the same household, whether the high earner in the household became unemployed, doubling up for economic reasons, penalties at work for absences, and penalties at work for sharing pay information ("pay secrecy").

When: Monday, October 3, 2011 12 Noon ET

For more information or to receive advance copies of the reports, please contact Caroline Dobuzinskis at [email protected] or 202.785.5100.

About the IWPR/Rockefeller Survey:
The IWPR/Rockefeller Survey of Economic Security was administered by Precision Opinion to 2,746 adults aged 18 and older between September and November 2010. The sample for the survey was stratified to yield approximately equal numbers of white, black, and Hispanic respondents, with results weighted by American Community Survey data to reflect the non-institutional, adult population of the nation. The survey focused on people's perceptions of their own economic security following the Great Recession of 2007–2009. As part of a larger project to gather information and educate the public on how to improve the economic security of older women, low-income retirees, and vulnerable Americans of working age, the survey was supported as part of the Rockefeller Foundation's Campaign for the American Worker initiative.

About the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR):
IWPR conducts rigorous research and disseminates its findings to address the needs of women and their families, promote public dialogue, and strengthen communities and societies. IWPR is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that also works in affiliation with the women's studies and public policy programs at The George Washington University.

SOURCE Institute for Women's Policy Research