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TOPIC:
EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH AMONG OLDER PEOPLE: SELF-EMPLOYMENT VS. WAGE EMPLOYMENT
ABSTRACT
With increased life expectancy and population aging, social security systems and employment policies for the elderly have become important for many countries. Health is a main consideration in designing and reforming policies for aged populations. In this study, I examine the impacts of employment at older ages on individuals’ health using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSa). In assessing the health consequences of employment, I distinguish between self-employment, which is predominant among the elderly working population, and wage employment. The results show that the effects on health differ by employment type; self-employment has a negative impact on general health and mental health whereas wage work has a positive impact. However, in contrast to wage work, self-employment improves cognitive functioning.