Work, health, and family at older ages in Japan

The authors investigated ways in which the relationship between health and labor force exit at older ages is moderated by family characteristics. Using two waves of data from a national sample of older Japanese men collected in 1999 and 2002, the authors estimated logistic regression models for labor force exit beyond age 63 as a function of health change, family characteristics, and their interactions. Poor health was strongly associated with labor force exit and evidence showed that moderating influences of family context depend on the level of health. However, the results were only partially consistent with hypotheses that the relationship between health and the likelihood of labor force exit should be stronger for (1) those with good health and family incentives to exit the labor force and (2) those with poor health and family incentives to remain in the labor force.