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Pension Reforms, Longer Working Horizons and Depression. Does the Risk of Automation Matter?

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  • Bertoni, Marco

    (University of Padova)

  • Brunello, Giorgio

    (University of Padova)

  • Da Re, Filippo

    (University of Padova)

Abstract

We investigate the effect of postponing minimum retirement age on middle-aged workers' depression. Using pension reforms in several European countries and data from the SHARE survey, we find that depression increases with a longer work horizon, but only among workers employed in occupations with a relatively high risk of automation. We rule out alternatives to this risk, including job strenuousness, education, gender, and the degree of routinization of occupations. We explain our results with the higher job insecurity associated with occupations more exposed to automation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertoni, Marco & Brunello, Giorgio & Da Re, Filippo, 2022. "Pension Reforms, Longer Working Horizons and Depression. Does the Risk of Automation Matter?," IZA Discussion Papers 15700, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15700
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    pension reforms; depression; automation; SHARE;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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