Clearly unhealthy

摘要

These days, Americans have many reasons to worry about how they will make ends meet when they retire. Social Security is said to be teetering; corporate and public pension plans are saddled with big deficits. The fastest-growing problem, however, is that rocketing costs are making it increasingly hard for employers to pay for the health care that many of them provide for retired staff. Many companies-think of General Motors-are finding the sums unpleasant. And following an accounting rule finalised last August by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), the standard-setter for America's state and local governments, public-sector employers are also trying to come to grips with the cost of their promises.