Working Paper: NBER ID: w21970
Authors: Alain Jousten; Mathieu Lefebvre
Abstract: We explore the link between health indicators and employment rates of the population aged 55 or more. Our focus lies on work capacity as a key determinant of employment. Using cohort mortality information as a proxy for overall health outcomes, we establish a substantial untapped work capacity in the population 55+. Even stronger results are obtained when relying on individual-level objective and subjective health and socioeconomic parameters as predictors.
Keywords: work capacity; employment rates; health indicators; older workers; Belgium
JEL Codes: J14; J21; J26
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| health indicators (I15) | employment rates (J68) |
| mortality improvements (J17) | employment rates (J68) |
| better health (I19) | higher employment rates (J68) |
| employment rates at equal mortality rates (J79) | additional employment capacity (J23) |
| age (J14) | predicted work capacity (E23) |