Pension Research Center

Information Resources for Pension and Retirement Issues

Welcome to the OPERS Pension and Retirement Research Center! Here is a list of online and print resources to consult in learning more about the merits of defined benefit plans and compensation in the public and private sectors. To help you add to your knowledge of pensions and retirement security, we will add information about other topics in the future.

If you have questions or comments about the information provided, please contact OPERS at giveusyourthoughts@opers.org

Filter by Author:

Year Range:

to

Defined Benefit Plans

Research Reports

Cost-of-Living Adjustments

2025 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | NASRA

State and Local Government Spending on Public Employee Retirement Systems

2025 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | NASRA

State and Local Government Contributions to Statewide Pension Plans: FY 22

2024 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | NASRA

Closing the Gap: Ohio Fact Sheet

2023 | Nari Rhee | National Institute on Retirement Security

Closing the Gap: The Role of Public Pensions in Reducing Retirement Inequality

2023 | Nari Rhee | National Institute on Retirement Security

The Real Deal for the Public Sector: Retirement Income Adequacy Among U.S. Public Sector Employees

2022 | Eric Atwater, Tyler Bond, Dan Doonan, Emily Swickard | National Institute on Retirement Security

The Top 10 Advantages of Maintaining Defined-Benefit Pension Plans: 2021 Update

2021 | NCPERS

Significant Reforms to State Retirement Systems

2018 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | NASRA

Preserving Retirement Income Security for Public Sector Employees.

2016 | Diane Oakley, Jennifer Erin Brown | National Institute on Retirement Security

Still a Better Bang for the Buck: The Economic Efficiencies of Defined Benefit Pension Plans

2014 | William B. Fornia, Nari Rhee | National Institute on Retirement Security

The Pension Factor 2012: The Role of Pensions in Reducing Elder Economic Hardships.

2012 | Frank Porell, Diane Oakley | National Institute on Retirement Security

Other Resources

Fast Facts and Helpful Resources on State and Local Government Retirement Systems

2025 | Tyler Bond | NASRA

AARP in the States: Snapshot: Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

2018 | AARP/NIRS/NRTA

Why Pensions Matter: The History of Defined Benefit Pension Plans in the United States of America

2017 | Tyler Bond | NASRA

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Cost of Living Adjustments

2014 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Frequently Asked Questions

2014 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Pension Trends

2014 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Public Pension Reform

2014 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: The Importance of Your Pension

2014 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Glossary of Terms

2010 | National Institute for Retirement Security

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Public Pension Fact Sheet

2010 | National Institute for Retirement Security

Pension Funding

Research Reports

Employee Contributions to Public Pension Plans

2024 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | NASRA

NASRA Issue Brief: Public Pension Plan Investment Return Assumptions

2024 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | National Association of State Retirement Administrators

State and Local Government Spending on Public Employee Retirement Systems

2024 | Keith Brainard | National Association of State Retirement Administrators

State Hybrid Retirement Plans

2024 | Keith Brainard, Alex Brown | National Association of State Retirement Administrators

The Funding of State and Local Pensions: 2015-2020

2016 | Alicia H. Munnell, Jean-Pierre Aubry | Center for State and Local Government Excellence

How Will Longer Lifespans Affect State and Local Pension Funding?

2015 | Alicia H. Munnell, Jean-Pierre Aubry, Mark Cafarelli | Center for State and Local Government Excellence

How Do Pensions Invest?: A Primer

2013 | Ronnie D. Jung, Nari Rhee | National Institute on Retirement Security

Other Resources

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Cost of Switching from Pensions to Individual Accounts

NRTA

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Pension Contribution Requirements

NRTA

NRTA Pension Education Toolkit: Pension Funding Gaps

NRTA

Pensions and the Economy

Research Reports

Pensionomics 2025: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures

2025 | Ilana Boivie and Dan Doonan

Pensionomics 2025: Ohio Fact Sheet

2025 | National Institute on Retirement Security

Pensionomics 2023: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures

2023 | Ilana Boivie, Dan Doonan

Pensionomics 2023: Ohio Fact Sheet

2023 | National Institute on Retirement Security

Pensionomics 2018: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures

2019 | Ilana Boivie | National Institute on Retirement Security

Pensionomics 2018: Ohio Fact Sheet

2019 | Ilana Boivie

Pensionomics 2016: Measuring the Economic Impact of DB Pension Expenditures

2016 | Jennifer Erin Brown | National Institute on Retirement Security

Preparing for Retirement

Research Reports

Retirement Insecurity 2024: Americans’ Views of Retirement

2024 | Dan Doonan, Kelly Kenneally | National Institute on Retirement Security

Millennials and Retirement: Already Falling Short

2018 | National Institute on Retirement Security

Retirement in America: Out of Reach for Working Americans?

2018 | Diane Oakley, Jennifer Erin Brown, Joelle Saad-Lessler | National Institute on Retirement Security

The Retirement Outlook for Millennials: What Is the Early Prognosis?

2018 | Urban Institute

Will Millennials Be Ready for Retirement?

2018 | Center for Retirement Research

Decisions, Decisions: An Update on Retirement Plan Choices for Public Employees and Employers

2017 | Jennifer Brown, Matt Larrabee

Retirement Security 2017: America’s View of the Retirement Crisis and Solutions

2017 | Diane Oakley, Kelly Kenneally | National Institute on Retirement Security

Shortchanged in Retirement, The Continuing Challenges to Women’s Financial Future

2016 | Jennifer Erin Brown, Nari Rhee, Joelle Saad-Lessler, Diane Oakley | National Institute on Retirement Security

Falling Short: The Coming Retirement Crisis and What to Do About It

2015 | Alicia Munnell | Center for Retirement Research

The Continuing Retirement Savings Crisis

2015 | Nari Rhee, Ilana Boivie | National Institute on Retirement Security

Financial Security Scorecard: A State-by-State Analysis of Economic Pressures Facing Future Retirees

2014 | Christian E. Weller, Nari Rhee, Carolyn Arncand | National Institute on Retirement Security

The Retirement Savings Crisis: Is It Worse Than We Think?

2013 | Nari Rhee | National Institute on Retirement Security