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I’m not sure about such a quantifiable metric, but anecdotally, it’s quite obvious that those who still maintain some work after “retirement” live a longer and

by EADGBE 8y ago

I’m not sure about such a quantifiable metric, but anecdotally, it’s quite obvious that those who still maintain some work after “retirement” live a longer and healthier life. Source: my retired grandfather who took up farming and lived another 30 years, my grandfather-in-law who retired after teaching and took to looking after cattle well into his 80’s. Maintaining the forced social interaction and mold exercise always help out in the long run.

rightbyte 8y ago
Uhm ... those who are able to work after retirement are of better health? I mean, if your health is bad you can't work. It's far fetched to assume that working longer gives better health is a stronger effect than that better health makes you able to work longer. Some work might make your health better, but the effect should be weaker than the statistics suggest.
gedy 8y ago
Sure, but I'm guessing your examples and the examples I've seen are people who have a pension, etc and can optionally work if they choose to. The current crop of people mostly don't have that, and with the low interest rates even saving for your own retirement is difficult. Work will likely be only option to survive above poverty in older years.
- ekianjo 8y ago
  Thats is already the case in Japan where you see quite a few elderly people (in their 70s or more) working in convenience stores since their retirement pension is probably too low to live on it.
  - EADGBE 8y ago
    This isn’t an issue just in Japan.
throwawaymath 8y ago
> anecdotally, it’s quite obvious that those who still maintain some work after “retirement” live a longer and healthier life. That's not at all obvious to me. Even if we put aside the problem with anecdotal evidence in general, your examples still don't imply that people remain healthier by working longer. They imply that health is positively correlated with working longer, which may also indicate that people who healthier are able to work longer.
ekianjo 8y ago
> it’s quite obvious No, nothing is obvious until you prove the hypothesis. If we accepted anecdotal evidence we would all be drinking snake oil right now.

by EADGBE 8y ago

rightbyte 8y ago

Uhm ... those who are able to work after retirement are of better health? I mean, if your health is bad you can't work. It's far fetched to assume that working longer gives better health is a stronger effect than that better health makes you able to work longer. Some work might make your health better, but the effect should be weaker than the statistics suggest.

gedy 8y ago

Sure, but I'm guessing your examples and the examples I've seen are people who have a pension, etc and can optionally work if they choose to. The current crop of people mostly don't have that, and with the low interest rates even saving for your own retirement is difficult. Work will likely be only option to survive above poverty in older years.

ekianjo 8y ago
Thats is already the case in Japan where you see quite a few elderly people (in their 70s or more) working in convenience stores since their retirement pension is probably too low to live on it.
- EADGBE 8y ago
  This isn’t an issue just in Japan.

throwawaymath 8y ago

> anecdotally, it’s quite obvious that those who still maintain some work after “retirement” live a longer and healthier life. That's not at all obvious to me. Even if we put aside the problem with anecdotal evidence in general, your examples still don't imply that people remain healthier by working longer. They imply that health is positively correlated with working longer, which may also indicate that people who healthier are able to work longer.

ekianjo 8y ago

> it’s quite obvious No, nothing is obvious until you prove the hypothesis. If we accepted anecdotal evidence we would all be drinking snake oil right now.