No mental retirement: estimating voluntary adult education activities of older workers

Jens Ruhose, Stephan Thomsen and Insa Weilage

Education Economics, 2024, vol. 32, issue 4, 440-473

Abstract: Adult education may keep older workers productive if they voluntarily engage in learning. Examining a generous partial retirement reform in Germany that encouraged early retirement among male workers, we estimate voluntary adult education activities for early retirees. Using county-level administrative data on all public adult education centers (Volkshochschulen; VHS), we employ a difference-in-differences approach exploiting the predetermined county-specific age structure of men for identification. The results show a strong increase in participation in adult education, specifically in cognitively demanding courses. This supports an intrinsic willingness of older workers to acquire skills and abilities independent of financial incentives.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1080/09645292.2023.2229078

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