Auerbach, Goldman and Lee gauge how wealth contributes to Americans’ longevity, lifetime government benefits

an In The Media Appearance

"Wealthy Americans living longer, costing taxpayers" - Detroit News. 04/27/2017

While Americans are living longer, these gains are seen mostly in those at the top of the income distribution. And wealthier Americans not only live longer than poorer Americans, but they reap a financial reward for their longevity via greater lifetime receipt of social security and Medicare benefits. Alan Auerbach, Dana Goldman, Ronald Lee and colleagues gauge the degree to which this income-based divergence in life expectancy creates a gap in the average lifetime benefits received by people in the highest and lowest income quintiles.

Researchers:

Dana Goldman

Alan Auerbach

Ronald D. Lee

Related Resources

Related NBER paper