What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore how income inequalities by race/ethnic origin impact retirement decisions among older individuals.

May 16, 2026

Social Security and Retirement of Older Blacks and Hispanics

Key Points

This research aims to explore how income inequalities by race/ethnic origin impact retirement decisions among older individuals.
Utilized Health and Retirement Study data from 2000–2020 linked to Social Security Administration records.
Calculated Social Security wealth accounting for earnings histories, employment gaps, and survival probabilities.
Analyzed racial/ethnic differences in retirement responses using statistical methods.
Social Security wealth encourages retirement among Blacks and Whites, but shows limited influence for Hispanics.
Identified that labor market barriers and discrimination may affect Black and Hispanic responses to retirement determinants.
Emphasized the need for separate analyses by race/ethnic origin to better understand differences in retirement behavior.

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.

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Discussion

Cite this study

Aguila et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0809f1a487c87a6a40bc28 — DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/pandp.20261126

Also consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century· 2015 · 2,739 citations
Understanding the Aging Workforce: Defining a Research Agenda· 2022 · 27 citations
Future Social Security Entitlements and the Retirement Decision· 2007 · 298 citations
Social Security Programs and Retirement around the World· 2003 · 126 citations
Inequality and social security reforms· 2007 · 19 citations

Authors

Emma Aguila

University of Southern California

Zeewan Lee

Journals

AEA Papers and Proceedings

Actions

Institutions

University of Southern California

National University of Singapore

Southern California University for Professional Studies

References and Citations

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Social Security and Retirement of Older Blacks and Hispanics

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Cite this study

Also consider

Authors

Journals

Actions

Institutions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Also consider