Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009

Dear People (Especially those in the US),

As I email here before, I am carrying out a web questionnaire.
I have asked you to comment on the questionnaire but I only received one
response.
I would like to thank that person who expressed very useful comments.
I took them into account.
However, I need some more views to make it sure that I am doing fine with
the language, design, etc.
In this message I present the instructions to the questions that will follow
(I will send them later to this group).

What I would like to ask:
1. Please have a look at the instructions below and please check my grammar,
and language.
Is everything understandable for the average US person?

2. I have asked this before but I still cannot make a decision: I provide
the labor and pension income as "net:" and I explain what "net" means below.
Some of you mentioned that the average US citizen would tell you their
"gross" income right off their mind but they would think about their "net"
income. Therefore you suggested to consider gross income in the questions
that I consider (not pasted here but I will paste later. But those questions
always include a table like one indicated below)
Please express your view: Should I indicate gross or net income? (pay
attention that it is monthly income not annual: maybe people know easily
their annual gross income but not monthly gross income but maybe they know
their net monthly income than their gross monthly income?). What would be
the most appropriate thing to do for the average US person? To present net
or gross income in such a setting below:

These are the two main issues for the moment. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation and time.

Instructions

In the following questions we describe a number of retirement plans of
hypothetical persons. These retirement plans are shown on a timeline. Here
is an example, the retirement plan of Nicole:

                        Work            Gradual Retirement
Retirement

Work Hours      40 hours             24 hours                           0

Income               $3000                   $1800
0

Pension                   0                      $1200
$2400

1.      Above the colored lines you see the age of Nicole.

2.      The colored lines indicate the labor market status at the indicated
ages. In particular:

·         the blue line indicates that Nicole works full-time
·         the red line indicates that Nicole works part-time
·         the black line indicates that Nicole is fully retired

3.      Under the colored lines we indicate, for the corresponding ages:

·         the number of hours per week Nicole works
·         the net labor income per month she earns
·         the net pension income per month she receives

We realize that the retirement plans of this kind may be very different from
your own and that your employer may not even offer plans like this. Still,
we ask you to evaluate each retirement plan or choose between several
retirement plans, given your own preferences. When doing this please assume
that

·         The described persons work in the same industry, in the same type
of job, and under similar work conditions as you do. They are as
satisfied with their work as you are.

·         The described persons' social and family lives are similar to
yours.

·         The described persons' employer fully cooperates with all the
options that are described.

·         The stated (pension) incomes are in current prices. That is, the
incomes are adjusted for future price increases.

·         'Net income' means income after tax, social security
contributions, etc.

·         The pension income includes Social Security income and
occupational pension provided by the employer.

·         The period of full-time work (blue line) starts before age 62, and
the period of full-time retirement (black line) continues after age 72.
         Hence, in the example, Nicole also earns net $3000 per month
before age 62, and receives a pension benefit of net $2400 per month
after age 72.