The Effects of Health Events on the Economic Status of Married Couples

TitleThe Effects of Health Events on the Economic Status of Married Couples
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsWu, S
JournalThe Journal of Human Resources
Volume38
Issue1
Pagination219-230
KeywordsAdult children, Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status, Net Worth and Assets, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

This paper uses measures of exogenous health shocks to identify the different channels through which changes in health conditions affect income, wealth, and consumption behavior. The results indicate that serious health conditions have strong effects on household wealth, but that the effects for women are larger and more significant than the effects for men. The source of the asymmetry arises from the fact that general living expenses increase when wives become seriously ill, while for husbands, health shocks do not affect these expenditures.

Endnote Keywords

Health/Retirement/Labor Force/Marriage/Economic Status

Endnote ID

6580

Citation Key6841