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Why Life Gets Better After Age 50, for Some: Mental Well-Being and the Social Norm of Work

Author

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  • van de Kraats, Coen

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Galama, Titus

    (University of Southern California)

  • Lindeboom, Maarten

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Deng, Zichen

    (University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

We provide evidence that the social norm (expectation) that adults work has a substantial detrimental causal effect on the mental well-being of unemployed men in mid-life, as substantial as, e.g., the detriment of being widowed. As their peers in age retire and the social norm weakens, the mental well-being of the unemployed improves. Using data on individuals aged 50+ from 10 European countries, we identify the social norm of work effect using exogenous variation in the earliest eligibility age for old-age public pensions across countries and birth cohorts.

Suggested Citation

  • van de Kraats, Coen & Galama, Titus & Lindeboom, Maarten & Deng, Zichen, 2024. "Why Life Gets Better After Age 50, for Some: Mental Well-Being and the Social Norm of Work," IZA Discussion Papers 17586, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17586
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lindeboom, Maarten & Montizaan, Raymond, 2020. "Disentangling retirement and savings responses," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
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    3. Klaas de Vos & Arie Kapteyn & Adriaan Kalwij, 2018. "Social Security Programs and Employment at Older Ages in the Netherlands," NBER Chapters, in: Social Security Programs and Retirement around the World: Reforms and Retirement Incentives, pages 297-316, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Coe, N.B. & Lindeboom, M., 2008. "Does Retirement Kill You? Evidence from Early Retirement Windows," Other publications TiSEM 749af81e-10f6-4c32-b9ae-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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