Debt and Financial Vulnerability on the Verge of Retirement

TitleDebt and Financial Vulnerability on the Verge of Retirement
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsLusardi, A, Mitchell, OS, Oggero, N
Series TitleNBER Working Paper Series
Document NumberWorking Paper No. 23664
InstitutionNational Bureau of Economic Research
CityCambridge, MA
KeywordsConsumption and Savings, Debt, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

We analyze older individuals’ debt and financial vulnerability using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS). Specifically, in the HRS we examine three different cohorts (individuals age 56-61) in 1992, 2004, and 2010 to evaluate cross-cohort changes in debt over time. We also use two waves of the NFCS (2012 and 2015) to gain additional insights into debt management and older individuals’ capacity to shield themselves against shocks. We show that recent cohorts have taken on more debt and face more financial insecurity, mostly due to having purchased more expensive homes with smaller down payments.

URLhttp://www.nber.org/papers/w23664.pdf
DOI10.3386/w23664
Citation Key9259