The effect of prolonged and diversified working life on health in later life

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01530
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07050:Public economics and labor economics-related
• Research Institution: Nanzan University
• Principal Investigator: Mizuochi Masaaki 南山大学, 総合政策学部, 教授 (50432034)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 引退 / 健康 / 高年齢者 / シークエンス分析 / 縦断調査 / 因果推定

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study found the following results. (1) Partial retirement with the same employer showed worse cognitive functioning than continued employment. Partial retirement with the same employer and full retirement showed no significant difference from continued employment. (2) Compared with continued employment, gradual retirement showed no significant difference in physical and mental health. Abrupt retirement showed worse physical health but better mental health than continued employment. (3) Compared with full retirement, returning to work showed worse mental health but no significant difference in physical health. (4) Retirement pathways were categorized into four groups: full-time employment, part-time employment, gradual retirement, and abrupt retirement. There was no significant difference between gradual and abrupt retirement regarding health effects.

Free Research Field

労働経済学、人口経済学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

先行研究では、引退は1時点の単純な事象として捉えられてきた。そのため、健康への影響について単純化された分析が行われ、引退の健康への影響について一致した見解が得られない一因となっていた。本研究の意義は、引退の過程に注目して、高年齢期の健康への影響について明らかにした点にある。さらに、引退過程に注目した研究においても、実証上の難しさから因果推定が行われてこなかったが、本研究では、操作変数法によって因果効果を明らかにした。本研究によって、引退過程と健康の因果関係が明らかになったことで、長期化する高齢期がもたらす健康格差への影響について、重要な知見が提供されたという社会的意義があると考えられる。