Longevity, Life-Cycle Behavior and Pension Reform

41 Pages Posted: 23 Apr 2011 Last revised: 13 Aug 2013

See all articles by Peter Haan

Peter Haan

DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Victoria L. Prowse

Purdue University - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

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Date Written: July 18, 2013

Abstract

How can public pension systems be reformed to ensure fiscal stability in the face of increasing life expectancy? To address this question, we use micro data to estimate a structural life-cycle model of individuals’ employment, retirement and consumption decisions. We calculate that, in the case of Germany, an increase of 3.76 years in the pension age thresholds or a cut of 26.8% in the per-year value of public pension benefits would offset the fiscal consequences of the increase in life expectancy anticipated to occur over the next 40 years. On average, individuals value the increase in the pension age thresholds at 3.44% of baseline consumption, and are willing to forgo 8.51% of baseline consumption to avoid the cut in per year pension value. The increase in the pension age thresholds makes 87.7% of individuals better-off, and generates large responses in labor supply and retirement behavior. However, the favorable effects of this reform depend on the availability of jobs for older individuals.

Keywords: life expectancy, retirement, public pension reform, life-cycle models, consumption, tax and transfer system

JEL Classification: D91, J11, J22, J26, J64

Suggested Citation

Haan, Peter and Prowse, Victoria L., Longevity, Life-Cycle Behavior and Pension Reform (July 18, 2013). Netspar Discussion Paper No. 04/2011-036, DIW Berlin Discussion Paper No. 1140, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1816374 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1816374

Peter Haan

DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Victoria L. Prowse (Contact Author)

Purdue University - Department of Economics ( email )

West Lafayette, IN 47907-1310
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

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