UM14-05: The Determinants of Household Savings for Couples During Retirement

Researchers

• Eric French
• John Bailey Jones
• Richard Blundell
• Mariacristina De Nardi
• Gemma Tetlow

Abstract

The goal of this project is to estimate a structural model of household behavior in old age. Within couples, spouses can provide care for one another and pool resources. There are differences in health and medical costs faced by singles and couples and their ability to self-insure. Previous studies focusing on singles have omitted a large share of the population. Singles are much more likely to need nursing-home assistance, for example. Bequest motives for singles and couples might differ in important ways. The savings responses of couples to health policy and taxation reforms might be different from those of singles.

Publications

• Couples' and Singles’ Savings After Retirement (Research Brief)
• Couples’ and Singles’ Savings After Retirement (Working Paper)

Project Year

2014