Marital Characteristics and Retirement Decisions

Abstract

This study assesses the effect of spouse and marital relationship characteristics on labor force withdrawal. The authors further explore differences between husbands’ and wives’ retirement. The analyses are based on two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households. Marital characteristics influence retirement decisions in several ways and contribute significantly to model fit. Husbands adjust their retirement in terms of wives’ benefit eligibility, whereas wives’ retirement is contingent on the couple’s income. Husbands also tend to leave the labor force when their wives are ill. In addition, retirement decisions seem to reflect considerations about postretirement marital quality and husband’s status in the marriage. Gender differences prevail with regard to the impact of work and marital history on retirement decisions.