URBAN INSTITUTE Comments on “ The Insurance Role of Household Labor Supply for Older Workers” by Yanan Li and Victoria Prowse from Richard W. Johnson Urban Institute August 7, 2014

URBAN INSTITUTE What Happens When Things Go Bad? Private Supports –Savings –Private health insurance –Other private insurance policies –Family members Public Safety Net –Unemployment insurance –Social Security –SNAP/TANF –Medicaid/Medicare

URBAN INSTITUTE Probability that Workers Employed at Age 50 Are Laid off by Age 70, (%)

URBAN INSTITUTE Median % Change in Monthly Per Capita Family Income, Long-Term Unemployed, * * compares income 1 month before spell and 6 months after

URBAN INSTITUTE Percent of Long-Term Unemployed in Poverty, 1 Month before Spell Start and 6 Months Later,

URBAN INSTITUTE Percentage of Long-Term Unemployed Receiving Income by Age and Source,

URBAN INSTITUTE Average Monthly Per Capita Family Income, Long-Term Unemployed Workers in Middle Half of Income Distribution, Ages 25-34

URBAN INSTITUTE Average Monthly Per Capita Family Income, Long-Term Unemployed Workers in Middle Half of Income Distribution, Ages 50-61

URBAN INSTITUTE Average Monthly Per Capita Family Income, Long-Term Unemployed Workers in Middle Half of Income Distribution, Ages 62+

URBAN INSTITUTE Suggested Extensions Provide more info context about spouses’ labor supply Disaggregate more by age Is it still appropriate to treat women as secondary workers? Any differences over time? SIPP might be a better dataset than PSID –Interviews conducted every four months –Larger samples