Increasing statutory retirement age, labor market outcomes, and effect heterogeneity: the 2017 pension reform in Finland

Satu Nivalainen & Ilari Ilmakunnas

Journal of Pension Economics and Finance2025https://doi.org/10.1017/s1474747225100036article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We study the 2017 pension reform in Finland, raising the statutory retirement age of the studied cohorts from 63 to 63 years and 6 months. Using monthly-based register data and a differences-in-differences approach, we estimate the reform’s impact on retirement, employment, unemployment, disability, sickness, and inactivity. Results indicate a significant 19-percentage-point increase in employment between the old and new retirement ages, alongside notable rises in unemployment, inactivity, and disability. Largely – but not entirely – this stems from the persistence of the previous labor market state. Gender differences are not large, but the effects vary considerably across education, income, employment sector, and self-employment status.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s1474747225100036

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@article{satu2025,
  title        = {{Increasing statutory retirement age, labor market outcomes, and effect heterogeneity: the 2017 pension reform in Finland}},
  author       = {Satu Nivalainen & Ilari Ilmakunnas},
  journal      = {Journal of Pension Economics and Finance},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s1474747225100036},
}

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0.50

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F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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