The Mortality Effects of Retirement: Evidence from Social Security Eligibility at Age 62

Maria Fitzpatrick and Timothy Moore

No 24127, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Social Security eligibility begins at age 62, and approximately one third of Americans immediately claim at that age. We examine whether age 62 is associated with a discontinuous change in aggregate mortality, a key measure of population health. Using mortality data that covers the entire U.S. population and includes exact dates of birth and death, we document a robust two percent increase in male mortality immediately after age 62. The change in female mortality is smaller and imprecisely estimated. Additional analysis suggests that the increase in male mortality is connected to retirement from the labor force and associated lifestyle changes.

JEL-codes: H55 J14 J26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age and nep-hea
Note: AG LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

Published as Maria D. Fitzpatrick & Timothy J. Moore, 2017. "The mortality effects of retirement: Evidence from social security eligibility at age 62," Journal of Public Economics, .

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Journal Article: The mortality effects of retirement: Evidence from Social Security eligibility at age 62 (2018)
Working Paper: The Mortality Effects of Retirement: Evidence from Social Security Eligibility at Age 62 (2016)
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