2013 – Publication Years

Cognitive Ability, Expectations, and Beliefs about the Future: Psychological Influences on Retirement Decisions

June 14, 2018
Behavioral economics, Cognition, Retirement

Recent advances in behavioral decision research, behavioral economics, and life-span development psychology provide leverage for expanding our understanding of the decision to retire earlier versus later. This report examines how cognitive abilities, perceptions about the future, and other psychological characteristics…

How Family Status and Social Security Claiming Options Shape Optimal Life Cycle Portfolios

June 14, 2018
Family dynamics, Life-cycle model, Retirement, Social Security, Social Security spousal benefits

Household decisions are profoundly shaped by a complex set of financial options due to Social Security rules determining retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits, along with benefit adjustments that vary with the age at which these are claimed. These rules influence…

Did Age Discrimination Protections Help Older Workers Weather the Great Recession?

June 14, 2018
Older workers

Did Age Discrimination Protections Help Older Workers Weather the Great Recession?

June 14, 2018
Older workers

We examine whether stronger age discrimination laws at the state level moderated the impact of the Great Recession on older workers. We use a difference-in-difference-in-differences strategy to compare older workers in states with stronger and weaker laws, to their younger…

Labor Force Transitions at Older Ages: The Roles of Work Environment and Personality

June 14, 2018
Older workers, Retirement

Labor Force Transitions at Older Ages: The Roles of Work Environment and Personality

June 14, 2018
Older workers, Retirement

Besides compensation and financial incentives, several other work-related factors may affect individual retirement decisions. Specifically, job characteristics such as autonomy, skill variety, task significance and difficulty, stress and physical demands, peer pressure and relations with co-workers, play a crucial role…

Evaluating Web-based Savings Interventions: A Preliminary Assessment

June 14, 2018
Retirement, retirement savings

There is reason to believe that technological approaches can help promote voluntary saving in 401(k) retirement accounts. Working with Vanguard, a leading 401(k) plan administrator, we are evaluating the impact of introducing innovations to websites made available to retirement plan…

Evaluating Web-based Savings Interventions: A Preliminary Assessment

June 14, 2018
Retirement, retirement savings

Older Adult Debt and Financial Frailty

June 14, 2018
Health and Retirement Study, Retirement

Older Adult Debt and Financial Frailty

June 14, 2018
Health and Retirement Study, Retirement

Of particular interest in the present economic environment is whether access to credit is changing peoples’ indebtedness over time, particularly as they approach retirement. This project analyzes older individuals’ debt, debt management practices, and financial fragility using data from the…