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Is Rising Household Debt Affecting Retirement Decisions?

Author

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  • Butrica, Barbara A.

    (Urban Institute)

  • Karamcheva, Nadia S

    (Congressional Budget Office)

Abstract

Household debt among older Americans approaching retirement has increased dramatically over the past couple of decades. Older households have become increasingly more indebted and more leveraged. While mortgages remain the predominant type of debt among households in their 50s and 60s, in recent years, student loan debt has also risen among these households. Using household survey data to examine how late life debt affects retirement decisions, we find that more indebted older adults are more likely to work, less likely to be retired, and on average expect to work longer than those with less debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Butrica, Barbara A. & Karamcheva, Nadia S, 2020. "Is Rising Household Debt Affecting Retirement Decisions?," IZA Discussion Papers 13182, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zibei Chen & Karen A. Zurlo, 2022. "The Role of Secured and Unsecured Debt in Retirement Planning," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 667-677, December.
    2. Mudrazija, Stipica & Butrica, Barbara A., 2023. "How does debt shape health outcomes for older Americans?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    older adults; household debt; mortgages; student loan debt; retirement; social security;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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