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Late-career unemployment shocks, pension outcomes and unemployment insurance

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  • Mahmoudi, Samir Elsadek

Abstract

In response to unemployment shocks, older workers deplete their 401(k)s, particularly after the waiving of the early withdrawal penalty on unemployment-motivated withdrawals at age 55. This paper shows that unemployment insurance keeps older workers from depleting their 401(k) assets following job losses. Unemployment insurance also incentivizes older unemployed workers to delay claiming their Social Security benefits beyond the earliest age of eligibility, 62. Overall, unemployment insurance enhances the retirement income of the individuals having a history of late-career layoffs by helping them preserve their 401(k) assets, maintain the return on these assets and opt for a higher stream of Social Security benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmoudi, Samir Elsadek, 2023. "Late-career unemployment shocks, pension outcomes and unemployment insurance," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:218:y:2023:i:c:s0047272722001530
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104751
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Retirement Savings; Private Pensions; Social Security; Unemployment Insurance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • 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
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings

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