Economist Kathryn Anne Edwards is a Social Security fan girl. Would it be possible for her to love it even more? Yes, if the old-age insurance program got some updates to handle the messy, gradual and interrupted way that retirement truly transpires. Her four blue-sky pitches: changing benefit calculations for caregivers, taking benefits temporarily, a sliding “full” retirement age based on years worked, and a tax on companies that abuse 1099 non-employee compensation. Plus: A big retcon segment including details from a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco that further explains why "more supply" isn't the whole answer to the housing affordability crisis.

• Support Optimist Economy by donating: https://optimisteconomy.com
• Video clips are on the Optimist Economy YouTube channel⁠⁠.
• Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@optimist_economy or TikTok at ⁠⁠@optimist_economy. Or meet other Optimists on our Substack chat.
• Optimist merch provides great utility: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/optimisteconomy

Send your economic questions, concerns, or executive orders to optimist.economy@gmail.com