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Joint Retirement of Couples: Evidence from Discontinuities in Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Esteban Garc�a-Miralles

    (CEBI, Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Jonathan M. Leganza

    (University of California, San Diego)

Abstract

We study how social security influences the retirement behavior of couples. First, we exploit over two decades of full-population data and a discontinuity design to document sizable retirement spillovers to spouses when individuals reach pension eligibility age. Next, we explore underlying mechanisms. We find age differences within couples to be a fundamental determinant of joint retirement, which is driven by older spouses working longer. Accounting for these age differences reveals a strong gender gap, which prevails after controlling for relative earnings. Finally, in a complementary analysis we show that a reform increasing eligibility ages induces similar spillovers to spouses.

Suggested Citation

  • Esteban Garc�a-Miralles & Jonathan M. Leganza, 2021. "Joint Retirement of Couples: Evidence from Discontinuities in Denmark," CEBI working paper series 21-01, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2101
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    Cited by:

    1. Todd Morris, 2022. "The unequal burden of retirement reform: Evidence from Australia," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 60(2), pages 592-619, April.
    2. Giesecke, Matthias & Jäger, Philipp, 2021. "Pension incentives and labor supply: Evidence from the introduction of universal old-age assistance in the UK," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Gørtz, Mette & Sander, Sarah & Sevilla, Almudena, 2025. "Does the child penalty strike twice?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    4. Nassal, Lea, 2025. "Job Loss and Retirement," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1565, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    5. 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.
    6. Sona Badalyan, 2025. "Peer Effects in Old-Age Employment Among Women," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp800, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    7. Sturm, Patrick, 2025. "Workplace peer effects in retirement," W.E.P. - Würzburg Economic Papers 112, University of Würzburg, Department of Economics.
    8. Sigurd Galaasen & Herman Kruse, 2025. "Spousal spillovers in the labor market: A structural assessment," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 58, October.
    9. Sefane Çetin & Alain Jousten, 2025. "Retirement Decision of Belgian Couples and the Impact of the Social Security System," De Economist, Springer, vol. 173(4), pages 519-557, December.
    10. Sona Badalyan, 2025. "Retirement Age Reforms and Worker Substitutability: Implications for Employment of Older Workers," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp794, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    11. Inukai, Shinya, 2025. "The impacts of raising the public pension eligibility age on time allocation of elderly people: Evidence from Japan," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    12. Moghadam, Hamed Markazi & Puhani, Patrick A. & Tyrowicz, Joanna, 2024. "Pension reforms and couples’ labour supply decisions," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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