Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/126632 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
Discussion Papers No. 15-12
Publisher: 
University of Bern, Department of Economics, Bern
Abstract: 
Abstract Standard economic models predict that individuals smooth consumption over the life cycle. In contrast, there exists controversial empirical evidence showing that consumption declines at retirement. This paper investigates whether there is evidence for this so-called Retirement Consumption Puzzle in Switzerland. Baseline regression discontinuity estimates of average treatment effects are complemented by quantile treatment effects, where all estimates take the potential endogeneity of retirement into account. The findings suggest that disposable income significantly decreases after retirement, although there is substantial treatment effect heterogeneity. The reduction in income transmits to a negative but considerably less pronounced effect on overall consumption expenditures, indicating that households simultaneously adjust their savings. The results further show that food consumption at home is not or even positively affected by retirement, whereas expenditures in restaurants and hotels significantly decline.
Subjects: 
Retirement Consumption Puzzle
Consumption Smoothing
Household Expenditure
Regression Discontinuity
Quantile Treatment Effect
JEL: 
C21
J14
J26
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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