Automatic adjustment mechanisms of the retirement age based on Healthy Life Expectancy

Abstract

The observed improvements in life expectancy have led to wonder whether elderly population live not only more years but also healthier or it is more a fact of quantity rather than quality. This Master Thesis analyses the effects of the increases in the number of years lived on the health status of population after retirement. Living longer does not automatically mean to spend more time in good health, which is a point that will take special relevance for its influence in people’s decision to stop working. We explain how longevity developments are crucial to determine welfare but only if it goes hand in hand with keeping good mental and physical conditions. For this reason, healthy life expectancy will be introduced as an important policy measure to be considered when the objective is to adequate the retirement age to the best conditions for the worker to remain active.