Open AccessLiving longer, working longer? The impact of subjective life expectancy on retirement intentions and behaviour
Author(s) -
H. van Solinge,
Kène Henkens
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1464-360X
pISSN - 1101-1262
DOI - 10.1093/eurpub/ckp118
Subject(s) - life expectancy , psychology , expectancy theory , retirement age , retirement planning , longevity , preference , sample (material) , demographic economics , social psychology , gerontology , demography , economics , actuarial science , medicine , population , sociology , finance , pension , chemistry , chromatography , microeconomics
Virtually all Western countries are seeking to bring retirement ages more in line with increases in longevity. The central question in this article is whether individuals choose a retirement age that fits their life expectancy. This would be ideal from a public policy perspective. The present study aims to test empirically whether retirement planning varies with expectations of survival among a sample of older employees in the Netherlands. Two questions are addressed: (i) what are older employees' expectations of their remaining lifetime, and what factors influence this subjective life expectancy? (ii) Are individuals who perceive longer life horizons (high subjective life expectancy) more inclined to retire later than people who expect to live shorter?