Jason J. Fichtner

Jason J. Fichtner is a former Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research focuses on Social Security, federal tax policy, federal budget policy, retirement security, and policy proposals to increase saving and investment.

Previously, he served in several positions at the Social Security Administration, including as deputy commissioner of Social Security (acting), chief economist, and associate commissioner for retirement policy. He also served as senior economist with the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress.

His work has been featured in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, and USA Today, as well as on broadcasts by PBS, NBC, and NPR.

He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he teaches courses in economics, public finance, public policy process, public management, and public budgeting processes.

Fichtner earned his BA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; his MPP from Georgetown University; and his PhD in public administration and policy from Virginia Tech.

Fichtner is the author of The Hidden Cost of Federal Tax Policy and the editor of The Economics of Medicaid.