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The Macroeconomic Consequences of Public Finances : A Potential Explanation for the Reduction in Effective Retirement Age

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  • Géraldine MAHIEU

    (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES))

Abstract

In order to study the macroeconomic effects of public finances, we construct a computable general equilibrium model with overlapping generations, endogenous growth and endogenous retirement age. We calibrate this model on Belgian data. We show that it is able to replicate the observed increase in labor income tax and a substantial part of the drop in the retirement age recorded over the last fifty years. In addition, we find that the sharp increase in government expenditures financed by labor income taxation and the building up of a high level of public debt may have significantly contributed to this evolution. Tis model further suggests that a policy aimed towards a reduction in the public debt as well as a pension reform implying a lower taxation on old workers would constitute politically feasible alternatives to reduce the negative impact on aging by generating an endogenous increase of the retirement age.

Suggested Citation

  • Géraldine MAHIEU, 2001. "The Macroeconomic Consequences of Public Finances : A Potential Explanation for the Reduction in Effective Retirement Age," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2001030, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvir:2001030
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retirement; pensions; tax-transfer policies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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