Why Have the Labor Force Participation Rates of Older Men Increased since the Mid-1990s?

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Labor Economics
Year: 2008
Volume: 26
Issue: 4
Pages: 549-594

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

This article seeks to explain the substantial increases in older men's labor force participation rates observed since the mid-1990s. Using data from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, I exploit the cohort effects driving recent increases in older women's participation rates to identify the effect of a wife's participation decision on her husband's participation decision. I then decompose the changes in older married men's participation rates, demonstrating that husbands' responses to increases in wives' participation in the labor force can explain one-fourth, one-half, and one-third of the increase in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, respectively. (c) 2008 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jlabec:v:26:y:2008:i:4:p:549-594
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29