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Social Security Earnings Test and the Labor Supply of the Elderly: New Evidence from Unique Survey Responses in Japan

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  • Shimizutani, Satoshi
  • 清水谷, 諭
  • シミズタニ, サトシ

Abstract

Although there exists a large volume of literature on the subject, a consensus on the labor supply effects of the social security earnings test for the elderly has yet to be reached. This study proposes an alternative approach of utilizing direct responses to a survey on the earnings test, a unique feature of our dataset compiled by the Japanese Government, to provide new evidence on the sensitivity of the labor supply decision of workers aged between 60 and 64 with respect to the earnings test. Our empirical results show that a large proportion of these workers are discouraged from working or reduce their working hours, even after correcting for observed attributes of individuals who reported either affected or unaffected. In addition, the revision of the test rules in 1995 did not alter the labor supply of the elderly.

Suggested Citation

  • Shimizutani, Satoshi & 清水谷, 諭 & シミズタニ, サトシ, 2009. "Social Security Earnings Test and the Labor Supply of the Elderly: New Evidence from Unique Survey Responses in Japan," PIE/CIS Discussion Paper 429, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
  • Handle: RePEc:hit:piecis:429
    Note: This version: May 2009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shimizutani, Satoshi & 清水谷, 諭 & シミズタニ, サトシ & Oshio, Takashi & 小塩, 隆士 & オシオ, タカシ, 2009. "New Evidence on Initial Transition from Career Job to Retirement in Japan," PIE/CIS Discussion Paper 430, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    2. DiNardo, John & Fortin, Nicole M & Lemieux, Thomas, 1996. "Labor Market Institutions and the Distribution of Wages, 1973-1992: A Semiparametric Approach," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 64(5), pages 1001-1044, September.
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    4. Satoshi Shimizutani & Izumi Yokoyama, 2009. "Has Japan's Long-Term Employment Practice Survived? Developments since the 1990S," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(3), pages 313-326, April.
    5. Shimizutani, Satoshi & 清水谷, 諭 & シミズタニ, サトシ & Oshio,Takashi & 小塩, 隆士 & オシオ, タカシ, 2008. "The Labor Supply Effect of Social Security Earnings Test Revisited: New Evidence from its Elimination and Revival in Japan," PIE/CIS Discussion Paper 410, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
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    7. Leora Friedberg, 2000. "The Labor Supply Effects of the Social Security Earnings Test," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 82(1), pages 48-63, February.
    8. Richard Disney & Sarah Smith, 2002. "The Labour Supply Effect of the Abolition of the Earnings Rule for Older Workers in the United Kingdom," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(478), pages 136-152, March.
    9. Emmanuel Saez, 2010. "Do Taxpayers Bunch at Kink Points?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 180-212, August.
    10. Gruber, Jonathan & Orszag, Peter, 2003. "Does the Social Security Earnings Test Affect Labor Supply and Benefits Receipt?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 56(4), pages 755-773, December.
    11. Thomas Lemieux, 2002. "Decomposing changes in wage distributions: a unified approach," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(4), pages 646-688, November.
    12. Gustman, Alan L & Steinmeier, Thomas L, 1985. "The 1983 Social Security Reforms and Labor Supply Adjustments of Older Individuals in the Long Run," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(2), pages 237-253, April.
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    14. Steven J. Haider & David S. Loughran, 2008. "The Effect of the Social Security Earnings Test on Male Labor Supply: New Evidence from Survey and Administrative Data," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 43(1).
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    Cited by:

    1. Shimizutani, Satoshi & 清水谷, 諭 & Fujii, Mayu & 藤井, 麻由 & Oshio, Takashi & 小塩, 隆士, 2012. "Option Value of Work, Health Status, and Retirement Decisions: New Evidence from the Japanese Study on Aging and Retirement (JSTAR)," CIS Discussion paper series 566, Center for Intergenerational Studies, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    2. Satoshi Shimizutani & Takashi Oshio & Mayu Fujii, 2014. "Option Value of Work, Health Status, and Retirement Decisions in Japan: Evidence from the Japanese Study on Aging and Retirement (JSTAR)," NBER Chapters, in: Social Security Programs and Retirement Around the World: Disability Insurance Programs and Retirement, pages 497-535, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Hirono, Makoto & Mino, Kazuo, 2019. "Pension, Retirement, and Growth in the Presence Heterogeneous Elderly," MPRA Paper 98096, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Tengjiao Chen & Yajie Sheng & Yu Xu, 2020. "The Anticipation Effect of the Earnings Test Reform on Younger Cohorts," Public Finance Review, , vol. 48(4), pages 387-424, July.
    5. Francesca Caselli & Mr. Philippe Wingender, 2018. "Bunching at 3 Percent: The Maastricht Fiscal Criterion and Government Deficits," IMF Working Papers 2018/182, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Hirono, Makoto & Mino, Kazuo, 2020. "Pension Reforms, Population Aging, and Retirement Decision of the Elderly in a Neoclassical Growth Model," MPRA Paper 102467, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Shimizutani, Satoshi & Oshio, Takashi, 2013. "Revisiting the labor supply effect of social security earnings test: New evidence from its elimination and reinstatement in Japan," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 99-111.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social security earnings test; labor supply of the elderly; Japan; wage distribution; DiNardo-Fortin-Lemieux decomposition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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