The Effect of Retirement Incentives on Retirement Behavior: Evidence from the Self-Employed in the United States and England

TitleThe Effect of Retirement Incentives on Retirement Behavior: Evidence from the Self-Employed in the United States and England
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsZissimopoulos, JM, Maestas, N, Karoly, LA
Series TitleMichigan Retirement Research Center Working Paper
Document Number155
InstitutionMichigan Retirement Research Center, University of Michigan
CityAnn Arbor, MI
Call Numbernewpubs20080822_wp155
KeywordsCross-National, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Pensions, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

In this paper, we examine how public and private pension and health insurance systems affect the retirement transitions. In many countries, public and private pension eligibility, as well as access to health insurance varies between self-employed and wage and salary workers, and these differences are likely to cause differential retirement patterns both within and across countries. We use the variation in these institutional features within and across the United States and England to analyze retirement patterns. Based on longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in the United States and the English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing (ELSA) we find that the higher labor force exit rate of wage and salary workers compared to self-employed workers is due to defined benefit pension incentives created by the public and private pension systems. Higher rates of labor force exit at ages 55 and older in England compared to the United States are due in part to the availability of publicly provided health insurance.

URLhttps://ideas.repec.org/p/mrr/papers/wp155.html
Endnote Keywords

Pension Plans/Health Insurance Coverage/Retirement Behavior/ELSA_/cross-national comparison

Endnote ID

19300

Citation Key5699