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Why Do Couples and Singles Save During Retirement?

Author

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  • De Nardi, Mariacristina
  • French, Eric Baird
  • Jones, John Bailey
  • McGee, Rory

Abstract

While the savings of retired singles tend to fall with age, those of retired couples tend to rise. We estimate a rich model of retired singles and couples with bequest motives and uncertain longevity and medical expenses. Our estimates imply that while medical expenses are an important driver of the savings of middle-income singles, bequest motives matter for couples and high-income singles, and generate transfers to non-spousal heirs whenever a household member dies. The interaction of medical expenses and bequest motives is a crucial determinant of savings for all retirees. Hence, to understand savings, it is important to model household structure, medical expenses, and bequest motives.

Suggested Citation

  • De Nardi, Mariacristina & French, Eric Baird & Jones, John Bailey & McGee, Rory, 2021. "Why Do Couples and Singles Save During Retirement?," CEPR Discussion Papers 16155, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16155
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    Cited by:

    1. Kárpáti, D.;, 2022. "Household Finance and Life-Cycle Economic Decisions under the Shadow of Cancer," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 22/16, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    2. Advani, Arun & Summers, Andy, 2022. "Measuring and taxing top incomes and wealth," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1403, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    3. Philippe De Donder & Marie‐Louise Leroux, 2021. "Long term care insurance with state‐dependent preferences," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(12), pages 3074-3086, December.
    4. Stefano Castaldo, "undated". "Retirement and investment decisions: evidence from the receipt of a liquidity infusion," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0313, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".
    5. Auclert, Adrien & Malmberg, Hannes & Martenet, Frederic & Rognlie, Matthew, 2021. "Demographics, Wealth, and Global Imbalances in the Twenty-First Century," CEPR Discussion Papers 16470, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    6. Gobbi, Paula Eugenia & Baudin, Thomas & De Rock, Bram, 2021. "Economics and family structures," CEPR Discussion Papers 16516, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Taiyo Fukai & Hidehiko Ichimura & Sagiri Kitao & Minamo Mikoshiba, 2025. "Medical expenditures over the life-cycle: persistent risks and insurance," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 76(2), pages 285-336, April.
    8. Aleksandra Kolasa, 2022. "The long-term impact of quasi-universal transfers to older households," Working Papers 2022-28, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    9. Kárpáti, Daniel, 2023. "Essays in finance & health," Other publications TiSEM 5505e140-1f4d-4f61-a5a5-e, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Karolos Arapakis & Eric French & John Bailey Jones & Jeremy McCauley, 2022. "How Redistributive Are Public Health Care Schemes? Evidence from Medicare and Medicaid in Old Age," Working Papers wp441, University of Michigan, Michigan Retirement Research Center.
    11. Jean-Baptiste Michau & Yoshiyasu Ono & Matthias Schlegl, 2023. "The Preference for Wealth and Inequality: Towards a Piketty Theory of Wealth Inequality," Working Papers 2023-11, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    12. Nicolò Russo & Rory McGee & Mariacristina De Nardi & Margherita Borella & Ross Abram, 2024. "Health Inequality and Economic Disparities by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender," NBER Working Papers 32971, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Etgeton, Stefan & Fischer, Björn & Ye, Han, 2023. "The effect of increasing retirement age on households’ savings and consumption expenditure," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 221, pages 1-37.
    14. Martín García-Vázquez, 2025. "The Equilibrium Effects of State-Mandated Minimum Staff-to-Child Ratios," Working Papers 2024-025, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    15. van der Vaart, J & Groneck, M & van Ooijen, R, 2024. "Health Inequalities and the Progressivity of Old-Age Social Insurance Programs," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 24/20, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    16. Fonseca, Raquel & Moro-Egido, Ana I. & Morin, Hugo, 2024. "Stress and retirement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    17. Tréguier, Julie & Bonnet, Carole & Blanchet, Didier, 2025. "How Long Will You Be a Widow? Determinants, Trends, and Income Gradient in Widowhood Duration," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 62(2), pages 467-488.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D15 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Intertemporal Household Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality

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