Evidence that Self-Regulatory Mode Affects Retirement Savings

TitleEvidence that Self-Regulatory Mode Affects Retirement Savings
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsKim, H, Franks, B, E. Higgins, T
JournalJournal of Aging and Social Policy
Volume25
Issue3
Pagination248-263
KeywordsConsumption and Savings, Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Net Worth and Assets, Public Policy, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

We examine how self-regulatory motivations of locomotion (initiation) and assessment (evaluation) are related to retirement wealth in middle-aged and older Americans. We test a hypothesis that high locomotion and some assessment levels predict high wealth levels. We use two national data sets: the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (N = 6,464) and the 2005 Midlife in the United States (N = 4,963). We found that a combination of high locomotion and moderate assessment motivation can maximize wealth accumulation. By creating this combination of locomotion and assessment motivations, policy interventions can be more effective in motivating wealth accumulation for retirement, such as a required annual review of retirement savings plans and understandable disclosure of the plans' costs. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT

DOI10.1080/08959420.2013.791788
Endnote Keywords

net worth/retirement Saving/Retirement planning/Savings/Older people/Locomotion/Motivation/wealth Accumulation/Public Policy

Endnote ID

69062

Citation Key7827