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The effect of pension wealth on employment

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Haan

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Sebastian Becker
  • Hermann Buslei
  • Johannes Geyer

Abstract

This study provides novel evidence about the pension wealth elasticity of employment. For the identification we exploit reform-induced variation of pension wealth that is related to the number of children but which does not affect the implicit tax rate of employment. We use a difference-in-differences estimator based on administrative data from the German pension insurance and find that, on average, the negative employment effect of pension wealth is significant and economically important. Heterogeneity analyses document a strong age pattern showing that the employment effects are driven by behavioral responses of women close to retirement. The age pattern is partly explained by the positive effect of pension wealth on disability pensions after the age of 60.
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Suggested Citation

  • Peter Haan & Sebastian Becker & Hermann Buslei & Johannes Geyer, 2023. "The effect of pension wealth on employment," IFS Working Papers W23/01, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:23/01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carol Propper & George Stoye & Max Warner, 2023. "The effects of pension reforms on physician labour supply: Evidence from the English NHS," IFS Working Papers W23/26, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    2. Johan Saeverud, 2024. "The Impact Of Social Security Eligibility And Pension Wealth On Retirement," CEBI working paper series 24-05, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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