Abstract
We use Australian panel data to examine the impact of retirement on individual locus of control, a socio-emotional skill with substantial explanatory power for a broad range of life outcomes. Exploiting the eligibility age for the Australian Age Pension, we find that retirement leads to increased internal locus of control. This greater internal control explains around one-third and one-fifth of the positive effects of retirement on health and subjective well-being, respectively. We also show that locus of control is much more malleable at retirement than the other socio-emotional skills of the Big-Five personality traits, risk and time preferences, and trust.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1465-1493 |
| Number of pages | 29 |
| Journal | Economic Journal |
| Volume | 134 |
| Issue number | 660 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2024 |
Keywords
- Retirement
- Locus of control
- Socio-emotional skills
- Public pension