Full Citation

Title: It Sucks to Be Single! Marital Status and Redistribution of Social Security

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2021

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueaa078

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: In this article, we study the labour supply effects and the redistributional consequences of the US social security system. We focus particularly on auxiliary benefits, where eligibility is linked to marital status. To this end, we develop a dynamic, structural life cycle model of singles and couples, featuring uncertain marital status and survival. We account for the socio-economic gradients to both marriage stability and life expectancy. We find that auxiliary benefits have a large depressing effect on married women’s employment. Moreover, we show that a revenue neutral minimum benefit scheme would moderately reduce inequality relative to the current US system.

Url: https://academic.oup.com/ej/article/131/633/327/5858936?login=true

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Authors: Groneck, Max; Wallenius, Johanna

Periodical (Full): The Economic Journal

Issue: 633

Volume: 131

Pages: 327-371

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Other

Countries: