Age related health dynamics and changes in labour market status

Abstract

We focus on aspects of health changes, the importance of cohort effects, age related health changes and the effect of labour market status and work history on health. We moreover assess the relative importance of gradual changes and sudden shocks in health changes and the role of work status on the likelihood of experiencing a health shock. A fixed effect panel data model is estimated on two waves of a survey of Dutch elderly. We find strong differences in health outcomes for different age cohorts and gender. We also find that health deteriorates with employment and labour market history.