---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest danger to an adequate…"
description: "\"The greatest danger to an adequate old-age security plan is rising prices. A rise of 2% a year in prices would cut the purchasing power of pensions abo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/sumner-slichter-84821_adequate_the-greatest-danger-to-an-adequate-old-a_3056363.jpg"
---

#  The greatest danger to an adequate old-age security plan…

![“The greatest danger to an adequate old-age security plan is rising prices. A rise of 2% a year in prices would cut the purchasing power of pensions about 45% in 30 years. The greatest danger of rising prices is from wages rising faster than output per man-hour… Whether the nation succeeds in…” quote by Sumner Slichter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/sumner-slichter-84821_adequate_the-greatest-danger-to-an-adequate-old-a_3056363.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/sumner-slichter-84821_adequate_the-greatest-danger-to-an-adequate-old-a_3056363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99d/sumner-slichter-84821_adequate_the-greatest-danger-to-an-adequate-old-a_3056363.jpg)

> “The greatest danger to an adequate old-age security plan is rising prices. A rise of 2% a year in prices would cut the purchasing power of pensions about 45% in 30 years. The greatest danger of rising prices is from wages rising faster than output per man-hour… Whether the nation succeeds in providing adequate security for retired workers depends in large measure upon the wage policies of trade unions.”

Sumner Slichter

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Inflation erodes pension value; wage policies critically affect retirees’ security.

**In simple terms:** Inflation hurts pensions; wages matter.

Key Takeaway

Control inflation and align wages with productivity.

Themes

economics retirement inflation wage policy

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

economic policy

When to use this quote

- pension planning
- policy making
- financial advising
- union negotiations

Key Concepts

macroeconomics social security labor unions

Questions to Reflect On

- How can policy balance wages and inflation?
- What safeguards protect retirees now?

A Different Perspective

Wage hikes can outpace productivity, worsening inflation.

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