Should the U.S. Government Create a Nationwide Retirement Savings Plan?

Proposed legislation suggests that the U.S. government is interested in creating a federally sponsored retirement savings program. Under the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, private-sector employees without access to employer-sponsored savings options would automatically be enrolled in the program. Other proposals would also provide for matching contributions for lower- and middle-income employees. We asked two professors and authors of ALM’s Tax Facts with opposing political viewpoints to share their opinions about whether the United States should create a nationwide retirement savings plan at...