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A Theory of Retirement

Author

Listed:
  • David E. Bloom

    (Harvard School of Public Health)

  • David Canning

    (Harvard School of Public Health)

  • Michael Moore

    (Queen's University, Belfast)

Abstract

We construct a life-cycle model in which retirement occurs at the end of life as a result of declining health. We show that improvements in life expectancy, coupled with a delay in the onset of disability, increases both the optimal consumption level and the proportion of life spent in leisure. The retirement age increases proportionally less than the increase in life expectancy.

Suggested Citation

  • David E. Bloom & David Canning & Michael Moore, 2007. "A Theory of Retirement," PGDA Working Papers 2607, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    • Handle: RePEc:gdm:wpaper:2607
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    File URL: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/pgda/WorkingPapers/2007/PGDA_WP_26_replacement.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    15. Bloom, David E. & Canning, David & Mansfield, Richard K. & Moore, Michael, 2007. "Demographic change, social security systems, and savings," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 92-114, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qing-Ping Ma, 2017. "Contribution of interest rate control to China’s economic development," Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 325-352, October.
    2. Moshe Hazan, 2009. "Longevity and Lifetime Labor Supply: Evidence and Implications," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 77(6), pages 1829-1863, November.
    3. Pestieau, Pierre & Ponthiere, Gregory, 2016. "Longevity Variations And The Welfare State," Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(2), pages 207-239, June.
    4. Bae, Se Yung & Jeon, Junkee & Koo, Hyeng Keun & Park, Kyunghyun, 2020. "Social insurance for the elderly," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 274-299.
    5. Holger Strulik & Sebastian Vollmer, 2013. "Long-run trends of human aging and longevity," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 26(4), pages 1303-1323, October.
    6. Kuhn, Michael & Wrzaczek, Stefan & Prskawetz, Alexia & Feichtinger, Gustav, 2015. "Optimal choice of health and retirement in a life-cycle model," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 158(PA), pages 186-212.
    7. Alfonso Arpaia & Kamil Dybczak & Fabiana Pierini, 2009. "Assessing the short-term impact of pension reforms on older workers' participation rates in the EU: a diff-in-diff approach," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 385, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    8. David E. Bloom & David Canning & Jocelyn E. Finlay, 2010. "Population Aging and Economic Growth in Asia," NBER Chapters, in: The Economic Consequences of Demographic Change in East Asia, pages 61-89, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Heenkenda, Shirantha, 2016. "The Determinants of Dropouts from Voluntary Pension Scheme: Evidence from Sri Lanka," MPRA Paper 72481, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Klaus Prettner & David Canning, 2012. "Increasing life expectancy and optimal retirement:does population aging necessarily undermine economic prosperity?," PGDA Working Papers 9112, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    11. Bloom, David E. & Canning, David & Hu, Linlin & Liu, Yuanli & Mahal, Ajay & Yip, Winnie, 2010. "The contribution of population health and demographic change to economic growth in China and India," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 17-33, March.
    12. Junkee Jeon & Hyeng Keun Koo & Yong Hyun Shin & Zhou Yang, 2021. "An Integral Equation Representation for Optimal Retirement Strategies in Portfolio Selection Problem," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 58(3), pages 885-914, October.
    13. repec:dau:papers:123456789/6825 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Daishin Yasui, 2012. "Adult Longevity and Growth Takeoff," Discussion Papers 1218, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    aging; health; retirement; savings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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