The impact of work on cognition and physical disability: Evidence from English women

B-Tier
Journal: Labour Economics
Year: 2025
Volume: 94
Issue: C

Authors (4)

Banks, James (not in RePEc) Cribb, Jonathan (Institute for Fiscal Studies (...) Emmerson, Carl (not in RePEc) Sturrock, David (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.505 = (α=2.02 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

In this paper we show that remaining in work has significant positive causal effects on the average cognition and physical mobility of older women in England. We analyse a reform-induced increase in employment of 60–63-year-old women between 2010 and 2017 in England and show that working longer substantially boosts performance on two cognitive tests, particularly for single women. We also find large improvements in measures of physical disability: substantial increases in walking speed, and lower reports of mobility problems. However, for women in sedentary occupations, work reduces walking speed, due to lower levels of physical exercise.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:labeco:v:94:y:2025:i:c:s0927537125000545
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25