Is Social Security A Bad Deal For African Americans?

The Cato Institute’s Dan Mitchell says yes.

The Los Angeles Times’ Michael Hiltzik says no.

I think Hiltzik is right, based on the research he cites in his piece. All other things equal, African Americans receive lower returns from Social Security due to their shorter life spans. But all other things aren’t equal: in addition to having shorter life spans, African Americans have lower incomes and higher disability rates. As a result, they benefit from Social Security’s progressivity and the insurance aspects of the DI program. As a result, their overall rates of return received through the program are on average higher than for whites.