Publication |
Author(s) | Calvo, E.; Haverstick, K.; Sass, S. |
Title | What Makes Retirees Happier: A Gradual or 'Cold Turkey' Retirement? |
Source | MPRA Paper No. 5607, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 2007, USA |
URL | HTTP://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/5607/ |
Investigation |
Public | Eldery, United States, followed through retirement 1992-2004 |
| Born between 1931 and 1941, 2 assessments between 1992 and 2004.
Aged 51-61 in 1992; 63-73 in 2004, 12 year interval. |
Last assesment | 2004 |
| 1992-2004.
T1: last wave individual is fully employed between 1992 and 2004.
T2: first wave individual is fully retired between 1992 and 2004. |
Survey name | Not available |
| Health and Retirement Study (HRS, nationally representative, biennial, panel survey of older Americans and their spouses) |
Sample | Selection from general population sample |
| The initial cohort of this panel study was composed of 9760 age-eligible individuals born between 1931-1941, This study is based on a subsample of 2389 paricipants, who made a full transition from being fully employed to being fully retired, and who have submitted sufficient valid information. |
Respondents N = | 2389 |
| 1733 'Cold Turkey' retirement s (73%), 656 Gradual retirements (27%) |
Non Response | 25%; from 3022 (fully retired in 2004) to 2389. |
| 5744 fully employed in 1992, 3022 fully retired in 2004.
Difference also by drop-outs.between1992 and 2004. |
Assesment | Questionnaire: paper |
Happiness measure(s) used |
Author's label | | Our subject description |
Blue-Collar | show | 'Objective' socio-economic status |
Gender (male vs female) | show | Sex (male vs female) |
Improved health | show | Change in physical health |
More than high school | show | Level of school-education |
Prompt retirement (vs gradual) | show | Sudden retirement (vs gradual) |
Retirement | show | Change in retirement status |
Retirement wanted | show | Attitudes to retirement |
Retirement wanted | show | Earlier attitudes to retirement, also classified as above ↑ |
Spouse death | show | Death of an intimate |
Spouse death | show | Ever widowed, also classified as above ↑ |
Spouse death | show | Specific life-changes, also classified as above ↑ |
Summed effects | show | Socio-demographic + life-events |
Unemployed | show | Unemployed involuntary |
Wealth | show | Total wealth |
White Non-Hispanic | show | Ethnic status in the USA |
Years since last employment | show | Time since retirement |