Full Citation
Title: Social security and retirement timing: Evidence from a national sample of teachers
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2019
ISBN:
ISSN: 14753022
DOI: 10.1017/S1474747218000422
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Abstract: This study documents an important role for Social Security income in workers' retirement timing. About 40% of public school teachers are not covered by Social Security. This provides an opportunity to analyze the causal impact of Social Security on retirement timing by comparing covered and non-covered teachers. Using individual-level data from the American Community Survey, we find robust evidence of higher rates of retirement among covered teachers at Social Security eligibility ages. This pattern is confirmed using an alternative regression model of participation in the teacher labor force. These estimates suggest that, should the federal government mandate full inclusion in Social Security for all public sector workers, the retirement timing patterns of newly covered teachers and other public sector workers would likely change.
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Authors: Morrill, Melinda Sandler; Westall, John
Periodical (Full): Journal of Pension Economics and Finance
Issue: 4
Volume: 18
Pages: 549-564
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Aging and Retirement
Countries: