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In Debt and Approaching Retirement: Claim Social Security or Work Longer?

Author

Listed:
  • Barbara A. Butrica
  • Nadia S. Karamcheva

Abstract

Over the past couple of decades, older Americans have become considerably more leveraged. This paper considers whether household debt affects the timing of retirement and Social Security benefit claiming. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we find that older adults with debt are more likely to work and less likely to receive Social Security benefits than those who are debt-free. Indebted adults are also more likely to delay fully retiring from the labor force and claiming their benefits. Among the sources of debt, mortgages have a stronger impact on older adults' behavior than do other sources of debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara A. Butrica & Nadia S. Karamcheva, 2018. "In Debt and Approaching Retirement: Claim Social Security or Work Longer?," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 108, pages 401-406, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:apandp:v:108:y:2018:p:401-06
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20181116
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    File URL: https://www.aeaweb.org/doi/10.1257/pandp.20181116
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lisa J. Dettling & Sarena Goodman & Sarah Reber, 2022. "Saving and Wealth Accumulation among Student Loan Borrowers: Implications for Retirement Preparedness," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-019, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    2. Collins, J. Michael & Hembre, Erik & Urban, Carly, 2020. "Exploring the rise of mortgage borrowing among older Americans," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Haurin, Donald & Moulton, Stephanie & Loibl, Caezilia, 2022. "The relationship of financial stress with the timing of the initial claim of U.S. Social Security retirement income," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    4. Butrica, Barbara A. & Karamcheva, Nadia S, 2020. "Is Rising Household Debt Affecting Retirement Decisions?," IZA Discussion Papers 13182, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Zhan Cao & Yizhou Tang, 2021. "The effect of increasing retirement age on consumption in China," Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, The Crawford School, The Australian National University, vol. 35(2), pages 136-150, November.
    6. Mudrazija, Stipica & Butrica, Barbara A., 2023. "How does debt shape health outcomes for older Americans?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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