Does retirement (really) increase informal caregiving? Quasi-experimental evidence from Australia

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Health Economics
Year: 2023
Volume: 87
Issue: C

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of retirement on informal care provision using nationally representative panel data from Australia. To establish causality, we exploit the gender and cohort specific eligibility age for the Australian Age Pension. We find no evidence of an impact of retirement (status or duration) on co-residential or extra-residential unpaid care provided by older individuals. The null effect of retirement on informal caregiving does not differ by the type of care recipient. Furthermore, we demonstrate that older people who postpone retirement reduce the amount of time they spend on other non-market activities to resolve the time conflict between unpaid care and extended employment. Our analysis indicates that the Australian Age Pension reform aimed at working career prolongation has not crowded out the supply of informal care.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jhecon:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s0167629622001278
Journal Field
Health
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-26