This piece briefly covers a range of potential variables in assessing current thinking on the health effects of retirement. [John Bound and Tim Waidmann’s 2007 work](http://www.mrrc.isr.umich.edu/publications/conference/pdf/UM07-08A0807C.pdf) on direct health effects is cited as a study controlling for reverse causality — or the potential explanation that poor health leads some people to stop working. The author concludes that, although evidence is mixed, recent literature may shake out on the side of negative health effects of not working.

More about Bound’s work cited in look at how retirement affects health and life expectancy >