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The Midlife Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Giuntella, Osea

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • McManus, Sally
  • Mujcic, Redzo

    (University of Warwick)

  • Oswald, Andrew J.

    (University of Warwick)

  • Powdthavee, Nattavudh

    (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

  • Tohamy, Ahmed

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

This paper documents a longitudinal crisis of midlife among the inhabitants of rich nations. Yet middle-aged citizens in our data sets are close to their peak earnings, have typically experienced little or no illness, reside in some of the safest countries in the world, and live in the most prosperous era in human history. This is paradoxical and troubling. The finding is consistent, however, with the prediction – one little-known to economists – of Elliott Jaques (1965). Our analysis does not rest on elementary cross-sectional analysis. Instead the paper uses panel and through-time data on, in total, approximately 500,000 individuals. It checks that the key results are not due to cohort effects. Nor do we rely on simple life-satisfaction measures. The paper shows that there are approximately quadratic hill-shaped patterns in data on midlife suicide, sleeping problems, alcohol dependence, concentration difficulties, memory problems, intense job strain, disabling headaches, suicidal feelings, and extreme depression. We believe the seriousness of this societal problem has not been grasped by the affluent world's policy-makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuntella, Osea & McManus, Sally & Mujcic, Redzo & Oswald, Andrew J. & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Tohamy, Ahmed, 2022. "The Midlife Crisis," IZA Discussion Papers 15533, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15533
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    File URL: https://docs.iza.org/dp15533.pdf
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    Other versions of this item:

    • Osea Giuntella & Sally McManus & Redzo Mujcic & Andrew J. Oswald & Nattavudh Powdthavee & Ahmed Tohamy, 2023. "The Midlife Crisis," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(357), pages 65-110, January.

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    Cited by:

    1. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2024. "Wellbeing Rankings," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 171(2), pages 513-565, January.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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