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Optimal choice of health and retirement in a life-cycle model

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  • Kuhn, Michael
  • Wrzaczek, Stefan
  • Prskawetz, Alexia
  • Feichtinger, Gustav

Abstract

We examine within a life-cycle model the simultaneous choice of health care and retirement (together with consumption). Health tends to have an impact on retirement through morbidity, determining earnings and the disutility of work, and through longevity, determining the need to accumulate retirement wealth. Conversely, the age of retirement drives the demand for health care through the value of survival and the value of morbidity reductions. We characterise the optimal relationship between health expenditure and retirement and apply our model to analyse the effects of moral hazard in the annuity market. While moral hazard always induces excessive health investments and an excessive duration of working life, it also triggers an excessive level of consumption if the impact of health on the disutility of work is sufficiently large. We examine a transfer scheme and mandatory retirement as policies towards curtailing moral hazard. Numerical analysis illustrates the role of moral hazard in shaping the life-cycle allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuhn, Michael & Wrzaczek, Stefan & Prskawetz, Alexia & Feichtinger, Gustav, 2015. "Optimal choice of health and retirement in a life-cycle model," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 158(PA), pages 186-212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:158:y:2015:i:pa:p:186-212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2015.04.006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Annuities; Health; Moral hazard; Life-cycle model; Retirement; Value of life;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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