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Planning for Retirement? The Importance of Time Preferences

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Listed:
  • Robert L. Clark
  • Robert G. Hammond
  • Christelle Khalaf
  • Melinda Sandler Morrill

Abstract

Ensuring retirement income security is a priority for individuals, employers, and policymakers. Using merged administrative and survey data for public sector workers in North Carolina, we explore how workers’ characteristics and preferences are associated with planning and saving for retirement. We then assess the “quality” of a retirement plan and whether retirement behavior is consistent with these plans. The findings indicate that the way that individuals discount future consumption is associated with the extent of their retirement planning and preparedness. We find that individuals who engage in retirement planning are better prepared to meet their retirement goals upon leaving their career jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert L. Clark & Robert G. Hammond & Christelle Khalaf & Melinda Sandler Morrill, 2017. "Planning for Retirement? The Importance of Time Preferences," NBER Working Papers 23501, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23501
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    Cited by:

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    2. Tomar, Sweta & Kent Baker, H. & Kumar, Satish & Hoffmann, Arvid O.I., 2021. "Psychological determinants of retirement financial planning behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 432-449.
    3. Nolan, Anne & Whelan, Adele & McGuinness, Seamus & Maître, Bertrand, 2019. "Gender, pensions and income in retirement," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS87.
    4. Börsch-Supan, Axel & Bucher-Koenen, Tabea & Hurd, Michael D. & Rohwedder, Susann, 2023. "Saving regret and procrastination," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Clark, Robert L. & Hammond, Robert G. & Liu, Siyan, 2021. "Work after retirement: worklife transitions of career public employees," Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 341-356, July.
    6. Vieira, Kelmara Mendes & Rosenblum, Tamara Otilia Amaral & Matheis, Taiane Keila, 2022. "And tomorrow, how will it be? Developing a Financial Preparation for Retirement Scale (FPRS)," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    7. Gallego-Losada, Rocío & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & Rodríguez-Sánchez, José-Luis & González-Torres, Thais, 2022. "Retirement planning and financial literacy, at the crossroads. A bibliometric analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    8. Benjamin Volland, 2018. "Après nous le déluge? Perceived distance of climate change impacts and pro-environmental behaviour," IRENE Working Papers 18-05, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    9. Robert L. Clark & Robert G. Hammond & Melinda Sandler Morrill & Christelle Khalaf, 2017. "Nudging Retirement Savings: A Field Experiment on Supplemental Plans," NBER Working Papers 23679, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    JEL classification:

    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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