April 2015

IZA DP No. 9032: Work Capacity and Longer Working Lives in Belgium

published in: D. A. Wise (ed.); Social Security Programs and Retirement around the World: The Capacity to Work at Older Ages, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017, 5-58

We explore the link between health indicators and employment rates of the population aged 55 or more. Our focus lies on work capacity as a key determinant of employment. Using cohort mortality information as a proxy for overall health outcomes, we establish a substantial untapped work capacity in the population 55+. Similar results are obtained when relying on individual-level objective and subjective health and socioeconomic parameters as predictors.