Joint Retirement of Couples: Evidence from Discontinuities in Denmark

We study how social security influences the retirement behavior of couples. First, we exploit over two decades full-population data and a discontinuity design to document sizable spillovers spouses when individuals reach pension eligibility age. Next, explore underlying mechanisms. find age differences within couples be fundamental determinant joint retirement, which is driven by older working longer. Accounting for these reveals strong gender gap, prevails after controlling relative earnings. Finally, in complementary analysis show that reform increasing ages induces similar spouses.