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Effects of Retirement and Lifetime Earnings Profile on Health Investment

Author

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  • Hernán Bejarano

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Orange, CA)

  • Hillard Kaplan

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Orange, CA and University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM)

  • Stephen Rassenti

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Orange, CA)

Abstract

We report the results of experiments where in each period of her lifetime the subject must choose how to allocate real earned income between health investment and life enjoyment in each period of a nine-period life in order to maximize aggregate life enjoyment. The key dynamic optimization challenge of the experiment to subjects derives from the fact that investments in health affect future income, but detract from current consumption. Our experimental results show that subjects were successful at reproducing the qualitative predictions of the theoretical model, investing more in health in the absence of retirement and with increasing income profiles. However, we did observe a systematic bias in health investments, being less than optimal in early periods and greater than optimal in late periods of life. We also found a significant effect due to social groupings. These results highlight the potential of lab experiments as a method to study health decisions and understand their determinants.

Suggested Citation

  • Hernán Bejarano & Hillard Kaplan & Stephen Rassenti, 2014. "Effects of Retirement and Lifetime Earnings Profile on Health Investment," Working Papers 14-21, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:14-21
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Yi & Salm, Martin & van Soest, Arthur, 2018. "The effect of retirement on healthcare utilization: Evidence from China," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 165-177.

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    Keywords

    experimental economics; behavioral economics; health economics; dynamic programming;
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