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on Economics of Ageing |
| By: | Rachel Scarfe (School of Economics, University of Edinburgh); Daniel Schaefer (Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz); Tomasz Sulka (Duesseldorf Institute for Competition Economics, Univerity of Duesseldorf) |
| Abstract: | Many countries have recently introduced automatic enrollment programs for workplace pensions, requiring employers to pay contributions. We examine who bears the costs of such mandated pension programs, exploiting the quasi-experimental rollout of automatic enrollment in the UK. We provide two novel findings: First, total compensation (the sum of basic pay, extra pay, and employer pension contribution) increases, driven by employer contributions, while the amount of extra pay decreases. We do not find evidence that the policy affects working hours. Second, these effects differ by employer size, with extra pay declining to such an extent in large employers that total compensation does not increase. Our findings provide the first evidence that large employers shift the cost of automatic enrollment onto employees, adversely impacting take-home pay. |
| Keywords: | Mandated benefits, Staggered difference-in-differences, Employer-sponsored retirement savings, Incentive design |
| JEL: | D21 H22 J32 J38 |
| Date: | 2023–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:edn:esedps:313 |
| By: | Coen van de Kraats (Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tinbergen Institute); Titus Galama (University of Southern California, Center for Economic and Social Research and Department of Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Tinbergen Institute); Maarten Lindeboom (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Tinbergen Institute and IZA); Zichen Deng (School of Economics, University of Amsterdam; FAIR Centre) |
| Abstract: | We provide evidence that the social norm (expectation) that adults work has a substantial detrimental causal effect on the mental well-being of unemployed men in mid-life, as substantial as, e.g., the detriment of being widowed. As their peers in age retire and the social norm weakens, the mental well-being of the unemployed improves. Using data on individuals aged 50+ from 10 European countries, we identify the social norm of work effect using exogenous variation in the earliest eligibility age for old-age public pensions across countries and birth cohorts. |
| Keywords: | mental well-being, social norm of work, retirement institutions |
| JEL: | I10 I31 J60 D63 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mhe:chemon:2025-04 |
| By: | Motta, Matt (Boston University School of Public Health); Callaghan, Timothy; Ross, Jennifer; Padmanabhan, Medini; Gargano, Lisa; Bowman, Sarah; Yokum, David Vincent (North Carolina) |
| Abstract: | In May 2023, federal regulators authorized two vaccines designed to prevent infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 or older. While some efforts have been made to study the prevalence of vaccine uptake thus far, few have studied this group’s intentions to vaccinate, as well as socio-demographic barriers to vaccination. In a nationally representative survey of N = 1, 200 US Adults (N = 362 aged 60+), we find that a majority of seniors (53%) intend to refuse an RSV vaccine. As of late Fall 2023, just 14% of those eligible have already received a RSV vaccine. We also present multivariate evidence that vaccine safety and efficacy attitudes, as well as previous vaccination behaviors, are associated with RSV vaccination intentions. |
| Date: | 2024–01–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:ezaur_v1 |
| By: | Bonetti, Marco; Basellini, Ugofilippo; NIGRI, ANDREA |
| Abstract: | In recent years, lifespan inequality has become an important indicator of population health, alongside more established longevity measures. Uncovering the statistical properties of lifespan inequality measures can provide novel insights on the study of mortality developments. We revisit the "e-dagger" measure of lifespan inequality, introduced in Vaupel and Canudas-Romo (2003). We note that, conditioning on surviving at least until age a, e-dagger(a) is equal to the covariance between the conditional lifespan random variable Ta and its transformation through its own cumulative hazard function (hence generalizing a result first noted in Schmertmann, 2020). We then derive an upper bound for e-dagger(a). Leveraging this result, we introduce the "Average Uneven Mortality" (AUM) index, a novel relative mortality index that can be used to analyze mortality patterns. We discuss some general features of the index, including its relationship with a constant ("even") force of mortality, and we study how it changes over time. The use of the AUM index is illustrated through an application to observed period and cohort death rates as well as to period life-table death rates from the Human Mortality Database. We explore the behavior of the index across age and over time, and we study its relationship with life expectancy. The AUM index at birth declined over time until the 1950s, when it reverted its trend. The index generally increases over age and reduces with increasing values of life expectancy, with differences between the period and cohort perspectives. We elaborate on Vaupel and Canudas-Romo’s e-dagger measure, deriving its upper bound. We exploit this result to introduce a novel mortality indicator, which enlarges the toolbox of available methods for the study of mortality dynamics. We also develop some new routines to compute e-dagger(a) and σ_Ta from death rates, and show that they have higher precision when compared to conventional and available functions, particularly for calculations involving older ages. |
| Date: | 2024–06–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:xb6vq_v1 |
| By: | Shen, Tianyu; Riffe, Tim; Payne, Collin F.; Canudas-Romo, Vladimir |
| Abstract: | Multistate modeling is a commonly used method to compute healthy life expectancy. However, there is currently no analytical method to decompose the components of change in summary measures calculated from multistate models. In this paper, we develop and describe a derivative-based method to decompose the difference in population-based health expectancies estimated via a multistate model into two main components: the proportion resulting from differences in initial health structure, and the proportion resulting from differences in health transitions. We illustrate the method using data on Activities of Daily Living disability from the US Health and Retirement Study to decompose the sex differential in disability-free life expectancy (HLE) among older Americans. Our results suggest that the sex gap in HLE results primarily from differences in transition rates between disability states, rather than from the initial health structure of male and female populations. The methods introduced in this paper enable researchers, including those working in fields other than health, to decompose the relative contribution of initial population structure and transition probabilities to differences in state-specific life expectancies from multistate models. |
| Date: | 2023–11–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:xcp2f_v1 |
| By: | Tervola, Jussi; Iivonen, Saija; Hiilamo, Heikki |
| Abstract: | Social insurance and social assistance reflect fundamental principles of social policies. Social insurance benefits cover employed individuals against a social risk event such as unemployment or disability in exchange of paid contributions. Social assistance benefits, in turn, are designed typically to secure the minimum standard of living, regardless of past contribution. In this article we ask if the dualism is feasible to depict contemporary social benefits that cover traditional social risks: unemployment, childbirth, sickness, disability, and old age. A policy analysis of six European countries with extensive social security systems – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom – demonstrates that while traditional insurance benefits and assistance benefits still make up the majority of risk-based benefits, also different kinds of deviations from the pure forms are observed. Some countries provide hybrid benefits where past contribution affects benefit rate, but non-contributory minimum is guaranteed for all facing the risk. Some countries provide income-tested contributory benefits which is against the traditional insurance logic. Moreover, universal flat-rate benefits are found especially covering the risk of old age. |
| Date: | 2024–03–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:97xzj_v1 |
| By: | Hüther, Michael; Obst, Thomas; Pimpertz, Jochen |
| Abstract: | Mit dem Verlust an preislicher Wettbewerbsfähigkeit ist das Geschäftsmodell der deutschen Volkswirtschaft ins Wanken geraten. In einer zunehmend de-globalisierten Ökonomie gelingt es der industriebasierten und exportorientierten Wirtschaft immer weniger, an dem Wachstum seiner Hauptzielländer teilzuhaben. Bedenklich stimmt die anhaltende Investitionsschwäche, die eine Bewältigung der transformatorischen Herausforderungen erschwert. Defizite in der öffentlichen Infrastruktur behindern eine erfolgreiche Transformation zusätzlich. Gleichzeitig wechseln ab jetzt die geburtenstarken Jahrgänge in den Ruhestand. Damit steigen die Finanzierungserfordernisse in der gesetzlichen Sozialversicherung stetig, während die zurückbleibende Lücke auf dem Arbeitsmarkt nicht mehr durch nachfolgende Kohorten geschlossen werden kann. Damit die Volkswirtschaft wieder zurück auf einen Wachstumspfad findet, braucht es einen Kurzwechsel hin zu einer angebotsorientierten Wirtschaftspolitik. Erfolge werden sich aber erst auf mittlere Sicht einstellen. Um Beschäftigung zu sichern und tragfähige Beschäftigungsperspektiven zu eröffnen, sind kurzfristig steuerpolitische Impulse zur Wiederbelebung der privaten Investitionstätigkeit vonnöten. Doch latent steigende Sozialabgaben drohen sich zu einer Investitionshypothek auszuwachsen. Denn sie führen zu steigenden Arbeitskosten, ohne leichtgängig mobilisierbare Produktivitätsreserven steigen damit die Lohnstückkosten. Es droht ein dauerhafter Verlust an preislicher Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, der das Bemühen um positive Investitionsstimuli konterkariert. Die Beitragssatzerhöhungen zum Jahreswechsel 2024/2025 sind nicht etwa als temporäres Phänomen misszuverstehen. Vielmehr markieren sie den Einstieg in einen anhaltenden Trend zu dauerhaft steigenden Beitragsbelastungen. Das gilt es zu vermeiden, damit eine Wiederbelebung privater Investitionen gelingen und Beschäftigung hierzulande gesichert werden kann. Denn eine makroökonomische Simulation zeigt, dass bei ungebremst steigenden Finanzierungserfordernissen in den sozialen Sicherungssystemen die Wirtschaftsleistung über das kommende Jahrzehnt rund einen halben Prozent unter dem Niveau liegen wird, das ohne Anstieg der Abgabenlast möglich wäre. Deutlich negative Auswirkungen zeigen sich unter anderem bei der privaten Investitionstätigkeit. Der Bremseffekt scheint bei der Beschäftigung vergleichsweise gering auszufallen, jedoch ergeben sich deutliche Einbußen bei den verfügbaren Einkommen. Die jährlich steigenden Sozialversicherungsbeiträge führen somit zu einer anhaltenden binnenwirtschaftlichen Nachfrageschwäche und zusammen mit der bereits schwach laufenden deutschen Exporttätigkeit zu einer Unterauslastung der deutschen Volkswirtschaft. Angesichts dessen führen Vorschläge in die Irre, die Beitragssatzsumme über eine Verbreiterung der Bemessungsgrundlage stabilisieren zu wollen - zum Beispiel durch eine Anhebung der Beitragsbemessungsgrenze in der GKV und SPV. Denn selbst bei einem kurzfristig stabilen Beitragssatzerfordernis steigen damit die Beitragsbelastungen für Arbeitgeber und Beschäftigte. Betroffen wären vor allem Standorte und Unternehmen, bei denen aufgrund eines hohen Anteils gut qualifizierter und überdurchschnittlich verdienender Arbeitskräfte Potenziale für eine erfolgreiche Transformation zu vermuten sind. Mittelfristig wäre dennoch wenig gewonnen, weil der Anpassungsdruck auf die Beitragssätze bei einem ungebremstem Ausgabenwachstum weiterhin bestehen bleibt. Stattdessen braucht es eine strikte Ausgabendisziplin in den umlagefinanzierten Sicherungssystemen. Das Beitragssatzziel von insgesamt 40 Prozent gilt explizit unter der aktuell gültigen Beitragsbemessung. Um diese Marke einhalten zu können, sind Einschnitte in das Leistungsversprechen der Sozialversicherungssysteme unvermeidbar. Für generöse Versprechen in der gesetzlichen Alterssicherung oder Leistungsausweitungen in der medizinischen und pflegerischen Versorgung ist angesichts der drängenden Aufgaben kein Platz. |
| Abstract: | Germany is suffering from a loss of international competitiveness. Revitalising economic growth therefore not only requires a sustainable change of economic policy. Even in the short term, measures must be taken to revitalise public and private investment in Germany. However, rising social security contributions are becoming an additional burden that can thwart incentives to invest. In the medium to long term, rising contributions threaten to reduce economic growth by half per cent compared to a constant contribution burden. This is because higher labour costs primarily affect the competitiveness of the German economy, while higher employee contributions lead to a decline in private consumption and domestic demand. To slow down the impending rise in contribution rates, in the federal election campaign some parties are proposing to raise the threshold for income subject to contributions in mandatory social security schemes. It is true that the expected additional income could be used to avoid increases in contribution rates in the short term. However, a supposedly fairer distribution of the burden cannot hide the fact that the overall contribution burden for employees and employers is increasing. Moreover, the ageing of the population will lead to further increases in contribution rates in the medium and long term, even with an increased income threshold. Instead, it is necessary to limit the increase in expenditure both in statutory old age insurance and in health and long-term care insurance to stabilise contribution rates under the rules of the current contribution law. |
| Keywords: | Rente, Pflege, Kranken- und Arbeitslosenversicherung, Verteilung und öffentliche Finanzen |
| JEL: | H55 I13 O11 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iwkpps:312392 |
| By: | Bergschneider, Henrik; Heger, Dörte |
| Abstract: | Growing needs for long-term care coupled with a dwindling supply of nursing personnel is a common challenge for developed countries. To uphold care standards, many countries introduced measures to safeguard staffing levels, e.g. by introducing minimum staffing regulations for nursing homes. However, evidence on the causal relationship of nurse staffing levels and quality of care is still inconclusive. This paper adds to the sparse evidence of the effect of nursing personnel employed in nursing homes and objective quality of care and accounts for different qualification levels of nursing personnel. We find that more registered nurses lead to better quality outcomes for nursing home residents while nursing assistants do not influence our objective quality measures. |
| Abstract: | Der wachsende Bedarf an Langzeitpflege in Kombination mit einem schrumpfenden Angebot an Pflegekräften stellt eine zentrale Herausforderung für entwickelte Länder dar. Um die Versorgungsstandards aufrechtzuerhalten, haben viele Länder Maßnahmen zur Sicherung der Personalausstattung ergriffen, beispielsweise durch die Einführung von Mindestpersonalvorgaben für Pflegeheime. Dennoch bleibt die Evidenz über den kausalen Zusammenhang zwischen der Anzahl von Pflegekräften und der Pflegequalität uneindeutig. Diese Studie trägt zur bisher begrenzten Evidenz über den Einfluss des in Pflegeheimen beschäftigten Pflegepersonals auf objektive Qualitätsindikatoren bei und berücksichtigt dabei unterschiedliche Qualifikationsniveaus des Pflegepersonals. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine höhere Anzahl an examinierten Pflegefachkräften zu besseren Pflegequalitätsergebnissen für Pflegeheimbewohner führt, während Pflegehilfskräfte keinen Einfluss auf unsere objektiven Qualitätsmaße haben. |
| Keywords: | Quality of care, long-term care, nursing shortage |
| JEL: | I11 I18 J63 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:312429 |
| By: | Colasurdo, Andrea; Omenti, Riccardo |
| Abstract: | Background: Online genealogies are promising data sources for demographic research, but their limitations are understudied. This paper takes a critical approach to evaluating the potential strengths and weaknesses of using online genealogical data for population studies. Objective: We propose novel measures to assess the completeness and the quality of demographic variables in the FamiLinx data at both the individual and the familial level over the 1600-1900 period. Utilizing Sweden as a test country, we investigate how the age-sex distribution and the mortality levels of the digital population extracted from FamiLinx diverge from the registered population. Method: We employ descriptive statistics, logistic regression modeling, and standard life table techniques for our measures of completeness and quality. Results: When one demographic variable is available, researchers can effectively anticipate the availability of other demographic information. The completeness and the quality of the demographic variables within the kinship networks are markedly higher for individuals with more complete and accurate demographic information. Lower mortality levels are observed in populations drawn from FamiLinx, which may be attributed to selectivity bias in favor of individuals experiencing more favorable demographic conditions. However, the representativeness of genealogical populations improved toward the end of the 19th century, especially when selecting individuals with more accurate birth and death dates. Conclusions: FamiLinx offers new opportunities for demographic research, due to its vast amount of individual information from various historical populations and their recorded kinship ties. Nonetheless, missing values and accuracy in its demographic information are selective. This selectivity needs to be addressed. |
| Date: | 2024–01–23 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:62yxm_v1 |
| By: | Johansson De Silva, Sara; Santos, Indhira Vanessa |
| Abstract: | The world’s population is aging at dramatic speed. By 2050, most of the world’s seniors (aged 65+) will be living in what are currently low- and middle-income countries. Aging will require low- and middle-income countries to develop comprehensive policy solutions to sustain welfare levels and ensure that welfare is equitably distributed across generations and socioeconomic groups. Given higher informality and lower human capital levels in low- and middle-income countries than more advanced economies, the balance and composition of the policy package in these contexts may differ, but there will be a common need for labor market policies to increase “productive longevity”—that is, to foster higher labor force participation and productivity among mature workers. This paper presents a framework identifying market, institutional, and behavioral failures that create constraints to productive longevity, and policies that may overcome these constraints. Drawing, to the extent possible, on the experience of low- and middle-income countries, the paper reviews evidence on supply-side and demand-side interventions to improve incentives, remove barriers to work, and invest in skills, as well as policies to improve matching of mature workers in labor markets. The paper ends with a discussion of meta-lessons for low- and middle-income countries. |
| Date: | 2023–12–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10636 |