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Working life and human capital investment

Author

Listed:
  • Gohl, Niklas
  • Haan, Peter
  • Kurz, Elisabeth
  • Weinhardt, Felix Julian

Abstract

This paper provides a novel test of a key prediction of human capital theory that educational investment decisions depend on the length of the pay-off period. We obtain causal estimates by leveraging a unique reform of the German public pension system that, across a sharp date-of-birth cutoff, increased the early retirement age by three years. Using RDD, DiD, and IV estimation strategies on census and household-panel data, we show that this reform causally increased educational investment in the form of on-the-job training. In contrast, non-job related training before retirement was not affected. We explore heterogeneity and additional outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Gohl, Niklas & Haan, Peter & Kurz, Elisabeth & Weinhardt, Felix Julian, 2021. "Working life and human capital investment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114422, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:114422
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    human capital; retirement policies; RDD;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation

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