The Racial Longevity Gap Past Age 65: Implications For Raising the Retirement Age

Teresa Ghilarducci and Kyle Moore
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Kyle Moore: Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), https://www.economicpolicyresearch.org

No 2014-01, SCEPA policy note series. from Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School

Abstract: In 1950, the United States could claim racial equity in one important respect – both black and white American men who reached age 65 could expect to live twelve more years to age 77. Unfortunately, by 2010, racial gaps appeared. White men at age 65 were projected to live almost 2 years longer than black men, while white women could expect to live one year longer than black women. In 60 years, racial equity turned into a racial gap in age-65 life expectancy. Th is is signifi cant when considering public policy proposals that seek to cut Social Security benefi ts by raising the retirement age, the age at which workers can collect their full Social Security benefi ts. A racial gap in life expectancy past the age of 65 means this cut in benefi ts will disproportionately impact Blacks.

Keywords: Retirement; 401(k); Retirement; Social Security; race; Longevity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 H55 J26 J50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 4 pages
Date: 2014-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-age
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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