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The replacement rate that maintains income satisfaction through retirement: The question of income-dependence

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  • Schmied, Julian

Abstract

Benchmark replacement rates are commonly used to set up saving plans or to assess retirement preparedness. An open question is whether high earners need the same replacement rate as low earners. In this paper, I apply the GAESE framework, an approach known from the equivalence scale literature, to assess how the replacement rate that maintains income satisfaction through retirement relates to income levels. Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, and applying fixed-effects ordered logit models, I find that the benchmark replacement rate decreases with income. For singles, this finding is consistent across many modifications of the approach, whereas for couples the finding is sensitive to the composition of the retiree household, i.e. whether or not the retiree’s partner is still employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Schmied, Julian, 2023. "The replacement rate that maintains income satisfaction through retirement: The question of income-dependence," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:26:y:2023:i:c:s2212828x23000312
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2023.100471
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income satisfaction; Saving adequacy; Retirement; Pensions; Inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • D19 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Other

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