were secured from 1,088 rural Southern families randomly se-
lected from rural counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ten-
nessee, and Texas. The male heads of all these families ranged
from 45 to 64 years of age.

 Summary
 Over one third of the white families and about three-fourths
of the Negro families interviewed received annual incomes of
less than $3,000 in 1963, and which were derived largely from
wages and salaries. Over 90 per cent of all families anticipated
the receipt of Social Security benefits upon retirement. On an
average, white families were projected to receive $165 in
monthly income upon retirement, and Negro families, $82. In
Florida, the respective amounts were $211 and $138 for white
and Negro families.
 The value of assets owned ranged from virtually nothing to
sums in six figures. The average for white home owners was
$20,441 and the median $9,586; for white renters the average
was $3,710 and the median $767. Assets owned by Negroes
averaged $4,197 for home owners and $499 for renters. The
respective medians were $2,500 and $571. The major assets
consisted of equities in nonfarm homes and in home and farm.
The accumulation of assets, or lack of them, was reflected in
retirement expectations. The anticipated contribution of assets
to-retirement approached 9 per cent of the total for whites, and
3 per cent for Negroes.
 In 1964, family data were secured from 80 elderly respon-
 dents to compare with an existing situation. The monthly in-
 comes of home owners, aged 65 and over, averaged $208 and
 those of renters, $115. These incomes nearly equalled those
 anticipated for retirement by respondents yet to retire. The
 money available or likely to be available for food, clothing,
 recreation, and miscellaneous items in retirement was barely
 sufficient to provide for basic needs, both as projected for the
 45 to 65 age category of respondents and as found for those
 65 and over.

 Social Implications
 The study clearly established that Southern rural families
 generally do not make special provisions for retirement, and
 normally cannot do so, except to the extent they achieve home
 ownership and freedom from debts. Moreover, only those whose
 assets are comparatively substantial ($10,000 and over) can