Housing Wealth and Retirement Timing

TitleHousing Wealth and Retirement Timing
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsFarnham, MP, Sevak, P
JournalCesifo Economic Studies
Volume62
Issue1
Pagination26-46
KeywordsEmployment and Labor Force, Net Worth and Assets, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

Labor-supply effects of changes in house value are potentially important but empirically neglected. Using the panel Health and Retirement Study merged to local house prices from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, we estimate the effect of house-price changes on actual and planned retirement timing. While we find no effect of house-price changes on the annual probability of retiring, we find that people respond to rising house prices by revising down their expected retirement age. We estimate that a 10 real increase in house value reduces expected retirement age by about 4 months. Our findings suggest that movements in the housing market may have important labor supply implications, especially in areas experiencing steep price declines.

Notes

Times Cited: 0 0

DOI10.1093/cesifo/ifv015
Endnote Keywords

retirement planning/labor Supply/House price fluctuations/labor Force Participation

Endnote ID

999999

Citation Key8374