Optimal Aging with Uncertain Death

Holger Strulik

Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) from Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät

Abstract: This note extends the theory of optimal aging and death (Dalgaard and Strulik, 2010) towards uncertain death. Specifically, it is assumed that at any age the probability to survive depends on the number of health deficits accumulated. It is shown that the results in Dalgaard and Strulik (2011) on the foundation of the Preston curve (the association between income and life-expectancy across countries) are robust against this extension. While results virtually coincide at high income levels, the stochastic version predicts somewhat more curvature of the Preston curve at low income levels. Taking uncertain death and a precautionary motive for health investment into account thus further improves a bit the anyway good fit of the Preston curve.

Keywords: Aging; Longevity; Health; Savings; Preston Curve (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 I12 J17 J26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 11 pages
Date: 2011-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Optimal aging with uncertain death (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:han:dpaper:dp-488

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