John Williamson, a Professor of sociology, received his Ph.D. in social psychology from Harvard University and S.B. in philosophy and physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Williamson has written extensively on the comparative study of social welfare policies, particularly those dealing with the elderly. His recent work makes extensive use of comparative historical analysis and quantitative cross-national analysis. His current research and writing efforts deal with the debate over generational equity and justice between generations in connection with Social Security policy in the United States, comparative international studies of social security policy, and quantitative studies of social, economic, and political determinants of cross-national differences in social policy and social justice issues such as income inequality, welfare state spending levels, pension spending, physical quality of life, and life expectancy.

His publications include:

Williamson, John B. 2004.  "What is the Central Goal for Social Security Reform? Adding Individual Accounts or Preserving the Social Insurance Mission?" The Gerontologist 44(6):851-854.

Williamson, John B., Tay K. McNamara and Stephanie A. Howling. 2003.  "Generational Equity, Generational Interdependence, and the Framing of the Debate over Social Security Reform." Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare 30(3):3-14.

Williamson, John B., Diane M. Watts-Roy and Eric R. Kingson, eds. 1999.  The Generational Equity Debate. New York: Columbia University Press.

Powell, Lawrence A., Kenneth J. Branco and John B. Williamson. 1996.  The Senior Rights Movement: Framing the Policy Debate in America. New York: Twayne Publishers.