Consumption changes on retirement for South African households

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation into whether age or work status are statistically significant determinants of the change in the consumption rate at and in retirement. This research used data from the Income and Expenditure Survey 2005-2006 for households comprising one or two adults. It was found that gifting and non-healthcare consumption, which includes gifting, are not influenced by age or work status. Certain households were found to have higher healthcare consumption after retirement than before retirement. This result challenges the belief that retired households have lower consumption than working households, all other things equal, and may therefore necessitate an upward adjustment to retirement adequacy goals.