Robertson A H
Soc Secur Bull. 1977 Jan;40(1):20-7, 48.
A thorough understanding of the financing structure of social security is a prerequisite to serious discussion of the financial condition of the program. In examining this structure, it becomes clear that the most important test of the program's financial soundness is whether expected future income to the funds equals expected future expenditures. Short-range and long-range cost estimates indicate that this condition does not exist and that an actual deficit of 7.96 percent of taxable payroll, equivalent to $4.3 trillion, needs to be eliminated--half of it perhaps by stabilizing benefits at current levels in relation to preretirement earnings. In addition, an unfunded accrued liability of $3.1 trillion exists, although there is no indication that this liability needs to be funded.
透彻理解社会保障的融资结构是认真讨论该计划财务状况的前提。在审视这一结构时，很明显该计划财务稳健性的最重要考验是基金未来预期收入是否等于未来预期支出。短期和长期成本估计表明这种情况并不存在，需要消除相当于应税工资总额7.96%（即4.3万亿美元）的实际赤字，其中一半或许可通过将福利稳定在与退休前收入相关的当前水平来实现。此外，存在3.1万亿美元的无资金准备应计负债，不过没有迹象表明这笔负债需要筹集资金。
