Working Paper: NBER ID: w24127
Authors: Maria D. Fitzpatrick; Timothy J. Moore
Abstract: Social Security eligibility begins at age 62, and approximately one third of Americans immediately claim at that age. We examine whether age 62 is associated with a discontinuous change in aggregate mortality, a key measure of population health. Using mortality data that covers the entire U.S. population and includes exact dates of birth and death, we document a robust two percent increase in male mortality immediately after age 62. The change in female mortality is smaller and imprecisely estimated. Additional analysis suggests that the increase in male mortality is connected to retirement from the labor force and associated lifestyle changes.
Keywords: mortality; retirement; social security; health outcomes
JEL Codes: H55; J14; J26
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Social Security eligibility at age 62 (H55) | Male mortality (I12) |
| Social Security eligibility at age 62 (H55) | Female mortality (J16) |
| Retirement from labor force (J26) | Male mortality (I12) |
| Lifestyle changes (I12) | Male mortality (I12) |
| Social Security eligibility at age 62 (H55) | Retirement from labor force (J26) |
| Social Security eligibility at age 62 (H55) | Specific causes of death (COPD, lung cancer, traffic accidents) (I12) |