GERO 390 is a three-credit UMGC course described as a comprehensive study of the sources of economic security for older adults, the problems met in retirement, and the impact of an aging population on the nation's economy.
The catalog goals include outlining key sources of economic security (Social Security, pensions, personal savings, Medicare and Medicaid), examining how economic security varies by race, ethnicity, gender and social status, evaluating how longevity affects the economy, and exploring solutions to problems posed by entitlement programs.
Students often find it difficult because it mixes economics, policy and social inequality, and asks you to read data critically.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | GERO 390 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | None listed in the catalog |
| Subject area | Economics of aging |
| Named income sources | Social Security, pensions, savings, Medicare, Medicaid |
What GERO 390 Covers
| Catalog topic | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Retirement planning | How people prepare for income after work |
| Financing longevity | Funding a longer life span |
| Health, disability and long-term-care costs | Costs that can drain resources |
| Economic disparities by social group | Differences by race, ethnicity, gender and status |
| International economics of aging | How other countries handle aging populations |
| Entitlement program solutions | Options for sustaining programs |
Key Concepts Explained
The Sources of Retirement Income
Older adults often combine several sources: public benefits, employer pensions, personal savings and health coverage. The mix differs by group, so explain who relies most on which source.
Example: Compare two retirees. One has a pension plus savings; the other relies mostly on public benefits. A small cost increase, such as a medical expense, affects the second far more. Use that contrast to show why disparities matter.
Disparities
Differences in lifetime earnings, work histories and wealth carry into retirement. Explain the cause, not only the gap.
Population Aging and the Economy
A larger share of older people affects labor supply, public spending and care demand. Present both pressures and possible responses, using current data.
Evaluating a Proposed Solution
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who benefits? | Shows distributional effects |
| Who pays? | Shows costs and trade-offs |
| What evidence supports it? | Prevents claims from resting on opinion |
| What are the risks? | Shows balanced judgment |
| How would it be measured? | Makes the proposal testable |
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
Assessments are not in the catalog. Check your syllabus; economics-of-aging courses often include the following.
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Data-based briefing | Reading tables and charts | State the figure, source, year and group every time |
| Policy proposal | Evaluating solutions | Use the evaluation table above |
| Comparative paper | International perspective | Compare two countries on one dimension |
| Discussion posts | Applying concepts | Use a concrete scenario |
Worked Example: Comparing Two Retirement Income Mixes
A simple scenario shows how to reason about economic security without needing advanced finance. Use made-up, clearly labeled figures only if your instructor allows illustrative numbers; otherwise use published data.
| Source | Retiree A | Retiree B |
|---|---|---|
| Public benefits | One part of income | Most of income |
| Employer pension | Yes | No |
| Personal savings | Moderate | Little |
| Exposure to a large medical cost | Lower | Higher |
The comparison lets you explain why the same event, such as a long-term care expense, affects the two retirees differently. It also leads naturally to the catalog's question about disparities: who tends to end up in each position, and why?
Example paragraph: "Retiree B depends mainly on public benefits, so a single large expense can exhaust resources quickly. Research on lifetime earnings and work histories suggests that groups with interrupted careers are more likely to be in this position, which is why policy debates about benefits matter."
Where Students Get Stuck
- Outdated numbers. Use the latest official figures and give the year.
- Treating retirees as one group. Show differences by background.
- Political rhetoric. Present evidence for more than one position.
- Confusing programs. Keep short notes on what each program does and who funds it.
Reading the Rubric for an Economics of Aging Paper
Economic and policy papers are graded on how carefully you use data and how fairly you present options. Use the table as a quick self-check.
| Typical criterion | How to meet it |
|---|---|
| Accurate program facts | Verify rules and figures from official sources |
| Data literacy | Report group, year, measure and source with every figure |
| Fairness | Present evidence on more than one side of a policy debate |
| Analysis of disparities | Explain causes of differences between groups |
| Clarity | Define terms and explain what each statistic means |
Before submitting, scan for any number without a source or year. Fixing these is the quickest way to raise the credibility of the whole paper.
Study Tips for GERO 390
- Build a table of income sources with purpose, funding and eligibility.
- Learn basic terms such as pension, annuity, entitlement and dependency ratio.
- Check each chart's axis and units before using it.
- End each section with one sentence on what it means.
How We Help with GERO 390
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Frequently Asked Questions
Economic security for older adults and the impact of an aging population on the economy.
Social Security, pensions, personal savings, Medicare and Medicaid.
Yes, by race, ethnicity, gender and social status.
Yes, the international economics of aging is a topic.
None is listed.
Yes, with feedback and models.