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Aging in Germany and the United States: International Comparisons

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  • Axel Borsch-Supan

Abstract

This paper reports on a set of international comparisons of how the German and the U.S. economies are affected by population aging. The paper's main focus is on the influence of institutional arrangements such as government regulations and subsidies on retirement, savings and housing choices in the two countries. Germany faces a particularly pronounced aging process. Her dependency ratio is already now as large as it will be in the year 2015 in the U.S., and it is predicted to exceed 43 percent at its peak in 2030. In this respect, changes that are occurring in Germany now may be regarded as indicative for changes to come in the United States. Retirement, savings and housing behavior differ quite markedly between Germany and the United States, and I will show that most of these differences are consistent with the incentives applicable to each country.

Suggested Citation

  • Axel Borsch-Supan, 1993. "Aging in Germany and the United States: International Comparisons," NBER Working Papers 4530, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:4530
    Note: AG
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barro, Robert J, 1974. "Are Government Bonds Net Wealth?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 82(6), pages 1095-1117, Nov.-Dec..
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    Cited by:

    1. Luciano Fanti, 2012. "Child rearing subsidies and fertility in small open economies with life uncertainty," Discussion Papers 2012/148, Dipartimento di Economia e Management (DEM), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
    2. Stijepic, Denis & Wagner, Helmut, 2009. "Population-ageing, structural change and productivity growth," MPRA Paper 37005, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 29 Feb 2012.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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