This course will examine a range of issues related to Social Security and Medicare including historical background and development of each program, the structure of benefits and financing for each program, alternative approaches to improving the solvency of each program, and a look at how other countries provide social insurance and healthcare to their populations.  We will consider recent proposals for reform and their implications.

Duncan RyanMann, Ph.D. is a faculty/mentor in the School of Business at SUNY Empire State University, where he has worked since 1993. He earned a B.A. degree in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in industrial organization, public finance, and health economics. Before he went to graduate school he worked for three years in Washington State's Medicaid program. Duncan taught on the faculties of the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, and Williams College. In addition to courses in micro and macro economics, Duncan teaches a range of courses related to healthcare, including Healthcare Policy and Comparative Health Systems. He also teaches in SUNY Empire’s Master’s in Public Administration program where he leads a course in Public Finance.

Ed Lane is a retired actuary and former professor of finance and economics at SUNY Albany. His undergraduate degree was in economics at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and his MBA was attained at SUNY Albany. He is currently on the Finance Committee for the Town of Stockbridge and the Treasurer at the Stockbridge Library.

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