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The Role of Endogenous Skill Choice in an Aging Economy

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  • Christian Jaag

    (IFF-HSG)

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the effects of an aging population on individual skill choices and the production structure by means of a dynamic general equilibrium model with overlapping generations and probabilistic aging. The model allows for capital-skill complementarity, which strongly affects the outcomes in a small open economy setting vs. a closed (or equivalently worldwide) economy. In an open economy with a fixed real interest rate, the necessary increase in the contribution rate discourages labor supply and depresses GDP. With a variable real interest rate, however, capital usage increases and - by the capital- skill complementarity - also employment of high skilled labor. The mobilization of highly productive labor gives a boost to GDP. Hence, the often cited adverse effects of aging are mitigated and can be overcome when taking into account a more realistic production structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Jaag, 2005. "The Role of Endogenous Skill Choice in an Aging Economy," Public Economics 0505005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwppe:0505005
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aging; Human Capital; Demographics; Education; Capital-Skill Complementarity; Life-Cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D58 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Computable and Other Applied General Equilibrium Models
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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