The Public Pension Crisis : Contractual Rights and Constitutional Limits

This book critically examines legal challenges surrounding public pensions, focusing on the Contract Clause and its role in pension reform. An ideal resource for legal scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and professionals, it analyzes over 70 cases, presenting a unified contract theory to balance employee benefits and government flexibility.

A timely response to the pressing issue of public pension reform, The Public Pension Crisis explores the complex relationship between contract law and government pensions, specifically focusing on the Contract Clause and related state Pension Clauses. Analyzing over a decade of litigation, the book highlights the evolving role of pension contracts in constitutional law and examines more than 70 landmark cases to establish a clear, principled framework for determining when pension benefits qualify as contractual obligations. T. Leigh Anenson presents a unified theory to consistently treat public and private pensions, balancing the interests of employees' earned benefits with the financial challenges facing governments. Combining legal scholarship with practical policy insights, Anenson not only provides a much-needed legal perspective on pension reform but also calls for a systematic approach to addressing the retirement security crisis.