Pathways to retirement and mortality risk in the Netherlands

The success of policies aimed at keeping older workers in employment until the statutory retirement age in part depends on the health of these workers. For this reason we examine to what extent pathways to statutory retirement other than employment are associated with adverse health conditions as measured by increased mortality risk during retirement. To do so, we estimate a mortality risk model using Dutch administrative data. We find, conditional on labor market status at the age of 58 and compared to individuals who are employed until the statutory retirement age of 65, no increased mortality risk among individuals who, between the ages of 58 and 65, have been in early retirement or unemployment and an increased mortality risk among individuals who have drawn disability insurance benefits. Our results suggest that older workers other than those who qualify for disability insurance benefits, may, on average, have no significant health conditions that could adversely impact the effectiveness of reforms that create stronger financial incentives for continued employment until age 65.