The rise in life expectancy – corresponding rise in subjective life expectancy? Changes over the period 1999-2016

TY - UNPB

T1 - The rise in life expectancy – corresponding rise in subjective life expectancy?

T2 - Changes over the period 1999-2016

AU - Janssen, F.

AU - Deeg, D.

AU - van der Noordt, M.

AU - Sant, N.

AU - Galenkamp, H.

AU - Huisman, M.

PY - 2019/6

Y1 - 2019/6

N2 - We test the hypothesis that subjective remaining life expectancy (SRLE) increasedconcomitantly with the rise in actuarial remaining life expectancy (ARLE) over theperiod 1999-2016. As earlier evidence shows the relevance of SRLE for the intention of older workers to continue working, we focus on people aged 64-67 years. We also examine the influence of personal characteristics on the trend in SRLE. We select data from six measurement waves (n=1,967 observations) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, which is representative for people aged 55 and over in the Netherlands.SRLE is derived from a ‘lifeline’ on which participants indicated where they stood in life at the moment of participation. We find no change over time in SRLE for men; for women, in contrast, we find a significant increase in SRLE, greater than the increase in ARLE. Among the personal characteristics, a poorer self-rated health (men), chronic diseases (women), and, unexpectedly, a higher level of education and better cognitive functioning (both genders) are associated with a shorter SRLE. For women, preference for a fixed retirement age of 65 or lower is associated with a longer SRLE. We discuss implications for the willingness of people aged 64-67 to extend working life.

AB - We test the hypothesis that subjective remaining life expectancy (SRLE) increasedconcomitantly with the rise in actuarial remaining life expectancy (ARLE) over theperiod 1999-2016. As earlier evidence shows the relevance of SRLE for the intention of older workers to continue working, we focus on people aged 64-67 years. We also examine the influence of personal characteristics on the trend in SRLE. We select data from six measurement waves (n=1,967 observations) of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, which is representative for people aged 55 and over in the Netherlands.SRLE is derived from a ‘lifeline’ on which participants indicated where they stood in life at the moment of participation. We find no change over time in SRLE for men; for women, in contrast, we find a significant increase in SRLE, greater than the increase in ARLE. Among the personal characteristics, a poorer self-rated health (men), chronic diseases (women), and, unexpectedly, a higher level of education and better cognitive functioning (both genders) are associated with a shorter SRLE. For women, preference for a fixed retirement age of 65 or lower is associated with a longer SRLE. We discuss implications for the willingness of people aged 64-67 to extend working life.

KW - levensverwachting

KW - life expectancy

KW - Subjective life expectancy

M3 - Working paper/Discussion paper

T3 - Netspar Design Papers

BT - The rise in life expectancy – corresponding rise in subjective life expectancy?

PB - Network for Studies on Pensions, Aging and Retirement (NETSPAR)

ER -