AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Social Security and Retirement of Older Blacks and Hispanics
AEA Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 630–634)
Abstract
Little research has examined how income inequalities by race/ethnic origin shape retirement decisions. Using Health and Retirement Study data from 2000–2020 linked to restricted Social Security Administration records, we calculate Social Security wealth accounting for differences in earnings histories, employment gaps, and survival probabilities. We find that Social Security wealth encourages retirement for Blacks and Whites but not for Hispanics. The limited responsiveness of Black and Hispanic individuals to other well-documented retirement determinants may point to labor market barriers and discrimination that diminish differences within groups and highlight the need to conduct analyses separately by race/ethnic origin.Citation
Aguila, Emma, and Zeewan Lee. 2026. "Social Security and Retirement of Older Blacks and Hispanics." AEA Papers and Proceedings 116: 630–634. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261126Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H55 Social Security and Public Pensions
- J14 Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-labor Market Discrimination
- J15 Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
- J26 Retirement; Retirement Policies