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ADULT LONGEVITY AND GROWTH TAKEOFF

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2014

Daishin Yasui*
Affiliation:
Kobe University
*
Address correspondence to: Daishin Yasui, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan; e-mail: [email protected].

Abstract

This paper develops an overlapping-generations model in which agents make educational and fertility decisions under life-cycle considerations and retirement from work is distinguished from death. Gains in adult longevity induce agents to decrease fertility, invest in education, and achieve higher income in order to save more for retirement. Even if working life is shortened by early retirement, this mechanism works as long as adult longevity increases sufficiently. Our model can explain the positive effect of life expectancy on education without contradicting the fact that working life length has not substantially increased, because of retirement. We also provide new insights into the interaction between fertility and retirement decisions.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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