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The Racial Longevity Gap Past Age 65: Implications For Raising the Retirement Age

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Abstract

In 1950, the United States could claim racial equity in one important respect – both black and white American men who reached age 65 could expect to live twelve more years to age 77. Unfortunately, by 2010, racial gaps appeared. White men at age 65 were projected to live almost 2 years longer than black men, while white women could expect to live one year longer than black women. In 60 years, racial equity turned into a racial gap in age-65 life expectancy. Th is is signifi cant when considering public policy proposals that seek to cut Social Security benefi ts by raising the retirement age, the age at which workers can collect their full Social Security benefi ts. A racial gap in life expectancy past the age of 65 means this cut in benefi ts will disproportionately impact Blacks.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Ghilarducci & Kyle Moore, 2014. "The Racial Longevity Gap Past Age 65: Implications For Raising the Retirement Age," SCEPA policy note series. 2014-01, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.
    • Handle: RePEc:epa:cepapn:2014-01
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    1. Michael Geruso, 2012. "Black-White Disparities in Life Expectancy: How Much Can the Standard SES Variables Explain?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(2), pages 553-574, May.
    2. Sloan, F.A. & Ayyagari, P. & Salm, M. & Grossman, D., 2010. "The longevity gap between black and white men in the united states at the beginning and end of the 20th century," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(2), pages 357-363.
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    Cited by:

    1. Teresa Ghilarducci & Kyle Moore, 2015. "The Racial Morbidity Gap: Implications for Raising the Retirement Age," SCEPA policy note series. 2015-02, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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