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Labor supply of elderly people, fertility, and economic development

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  • Hirazawa, Makoto
  • Yakita, Akira

Abstract

Increases in life expectancy and the fertility rate have been observed as per-capita income increases in economically developed countries with high per-capita income. We explain these observations using a synthetic economic model with endogenous lifetime, retirement, and human capital accumulation. In contrast to the result obtained by assuming an institutionally fixed and compulsory retirement, a longer life expectancy attributable to rises in per-capita income can induce elderly people to leave the labor market later, thereby enabling them to increase consumption of goods as well as “children” when young. Consequently, higher per-capita income can be associated with higher fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Hirazawa, Makoto & Yakita, Akira, 2017. "Labor supply of elderly people, fertility, and economic development," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 75-96.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jmacro:v:51:y:2017:i:c:p:75-96
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jmacro.2016.12.004
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    2. Yukie Nakajima & Steven M. Schmidt & Agneta Malmgren Fänge & Mari Ono & Toshiharu Ikaga, 2019. "Relationship between Perceived Indoor Temperature and Self-Reported Risk for Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Makoto Hirono, 2021. "Demographic change, human capital accumulation, and sectoral employment," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 165-185, March.
    4. Miyake, Yusuke & Yasuoka, Masaya, 2018. "Intergenerational Mobility and Policy in an Aging Population," MPRA Paper 89139, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Hirono, Makoto & Mino, Kazuo, 2019. "Pension, Retirement, and Growth in the Presence Heterogeneous Elderly," MPRA Paper 98096, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Koichi Futagami & Kunihiko Konishi, 2019. "Rising longevity, fertility dynamics, and R&D-based growth," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(2), pages 591-620, April.
    7. Tran, Quang-Thanh, 2022. "The aging tax on potential growth in Asia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    8. Ratbek Dzhumashev & Ainura Tursunalieva, 2023. "Social externalities, endogenous childcare costs, and fertility choice," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(1), pages 397-429, January.
    9. Thomas Ziesemer & Anne von Gässler, 2021. "Ageing, human capital and demographic dividends with endogenous growth, labour supply and foreign capital," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 20(2), pages 129-160, May.
    10. 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.
    11. Inagaki, Kazuyuki, 2021. "How are the international capital flows of rapidly aging countries affected by the elderly working longer?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 285-297.
    12. Cipriani, Giam Pietro & Fioroni, Tamara, 2023. "Human Capital and Pensions with Endogenous Fertility and Retirement," IZA Discussion Papers 16029, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Kazutoshi Miyazawa, 2021. "Elderly empowerment, fertility, and public pensions," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 28(4), pages 941-964, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fertility; Life expectancy; Labor supply of elderly people; Human capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • 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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