Labor Force Participation of Older Workers: Prospective Changes and Potential Policy Responses

Increased labor force participation of the elderly can reduce the fiscal and economic stress from the projected aging of the population in the next century. This paper uses Survey of Income and Program Participation data matched with longitudinal earnings histories and Social Security benefit records to estimate joint work and benefit receipt choices for people age 62 and over. The probability of working is shown to depend on both worker characteristics and policy variables, with lower Social Security benefits and lower tax rates on wages both modestly increasing labor force participation of older workers.