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The effect of heavy drinking on social security old-age and survivors insurance contributions and benefits.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ostermann, J; Sloan, FA
Published in: The Milbank quarterly
January 2004

This article estimates the effects of heavy alcohol consumption on Social Security Old-Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI) contributions and benefits. The analysis accounts for differential earnings and mortality experiences of individuals with different alcohol consumption patterns and controls for other characteristics, including smoking. Relative to moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers receive fewer OASI benefits relative to their contributions. Ironically, for each cohort of 25-year-olds, eliminating heavy drinking costs the program an additional $3 billion over the cohort's lifetime. Public health campaigns are designed to improve individual health-relevant behaviors and, in the long run, increase longevity. Therefore, if programs for the elderly are structured as longevity-independent defined benefit programs, their success will reward healthier behaviors but increase these programs' outlays and worsen their financial condition.

Duke Scholars

Published In

The Milbank quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1468-0009

ISSN

0887-378X

Publication Date

January 2004

Volume

82

Issue

3

Start / End Page

507 / 546

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Social Security
  • Old Age Assistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Expectancy
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Health Behavior
 

Citation

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Ostermann, J., & Sloan, F. A. (2004). The effect of heavy drinking on social security old-age and survivors insurance contributions and benefits. The Milbank Quarterly, 82(3), 507–546. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00320.x
Ostermann, Jan, and Frank A. Sloan. “The effect of heavy drinking on social security old-age and survivors insurance contributions and benefits.The Milbank Quarterly 82, no. 3 (January 2004): 507–46. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00320.x.
Ostermann, Jan, and Frank A. Sloan. “The effect of heavy drinking on social security old-age and survivors insurance contributions and benefits.The Milbank Quarterly, vol. 82, no. 3, Jan. 2004, pp. 507–46. Epmc, doi:10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00320.x.
Ostermann J, Sloan FA. The effect of heavy drinking on social security old-age and survivors insurance contributions and benefits. The Milbank quarterly. 2004 Jan;82(3):507–546.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Milbank quarterly

DOI

EISSN

1468-0009

ISSN

0887-378X

Publication Date

January 2004

Volume

82

Issue

3

Start / End Page

507 / 546

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Social Security
  • Old Age Assistance
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Expectancy
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Humans
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Health Behavior