TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Atalay, Kadir
AU  - Staneva, Anita
AU  - Zhu, Rong
        TI  - Integration or Isolation? The Impact of Retirement on Social Capital
        PY  - 2026/Feb/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 18396
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18396
        AB  - This paper examines the causal impact of retirement on social capital using nationally representative Australian panel data. Exploiting the eligibility age for the Age Pension, we find that retirement significantly enhances social capital by increasing social connectedness and community involvement. These gains improve physical and mental health, with effects comparable to those of physical activity. However, older individuals’ perceptions of social relationships remain unchanged. Our findings highlight a key policy trade-off: while raising the retirement age may boost labor force participation, it may reduce opportunities for meaningful social engagement and, in turn, undermine the health of older adults.
        KW  - retirement
KW  - social capital
KW  - hHealth
KW  - public pension
        ER  -