Understanding Debt in the Older Population / Annamaria Lusardi, Olivia S. Mitchell, Noemi Oggero.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lusardi, Annamaria.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Mitchell, Olivia S.

Oggero, Noemi.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w28236.

NBER working paper series no. w28236

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2020.

Summary:

Poor financial capability can erode well-being in later life. To explore debt and debt management among older Americans, age 51-61, we designed and analyzed a new module in the 2018 Health and Retirement Study along with information from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study. Even though this group should be at the peak of their retirement savings, it nevertheless carries debt due to student loans and unpaid medical bills; having children also contributes to carrying debt close to retirement. By contrast, the financially literate have more positive financial perceptions and behaviors. Specifically, being able to answer one additional financial literacy question correctly is associated with a higher probability of reporting an above average credit record and planning for retirement. Higher financial literacy is also linked to being less likely to carry excessive debt, being contacted by debt collectors, and carrying medical debt or student loans, even after accounting for a large range of demographics and other characteristics. Evidently, financial knowledge can help limit debt exposure at older ages.

Notes:

Print version record

December 2020.