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Health Shocks and the Evolution of Earnings over the Life-Cycle

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Keane

    (School of Economics, UNSW Business School, UNSW Sydney)

  • Elena Capatina

    (Research School of Economics, Australian National University)

  • Shiko Maruyama

    (Economics Discipline Group, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney)

Abstract

We study the contribution of health shocks to earnings inequality and uncertainty in labor market outcomes. We calibrate a life-cycle model of labor supply and savings that incorporates health and health shocks. Our model features endogenous wage formation via human capital accumulation, employer sponsored health insurance, and meanstested social insurance. We find a substantial part of the impact of health shocks on earnings arises via reduced human capital accumulation. Health shocks account for 15% of lifetime earnings inequality for U.S. males, with two-thirds of this due to behavioral responses. In particular, it is optimal for low-skill workers – who often lack employer sponsored insurance – to curtail labor supply to maintain eligibility for means-tested transfers that protect them from high health care costs. This causes low-skill workers to invest less in human capital. Provision of public health insurance can alleviate this problem and enhance labor supply and human capital accumulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Keane & Elena Capatina & Shiko Maruyama, 2020. "Health Shocks and the Evolution of Earnings over the Life-Cycle," Discussion Papers 2018-14b, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
    • Handle: RePEc:swe:wpaper:2018-14b
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    File URL: http://research.economics.unsw.edu.au/RePEc/papers/2018-14b.pdf
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    Cited by:

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    3. FUKAI Taiyo & ICHIMURA Hidehiko & KITAO Sagiri & MIKOSHIBA Minamo, 2021. "Medical Expenditures over the Life Cycle: Persistent Risks and Insurance," Discussion papers 21073, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Health; Health Shocks; Human Capital; Income Risk; Precautionary Saving; Earnings Inequality; Health Insurance; Welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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