Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 10810 During each 2-year cycle of interviews, the HRS team surveys more than 20,000 people who represent the Nation’s diversity of economic conditions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, health, marital histories and family compositions, occupations and employment histories, living arrangements, and other aspects of life. Since 1992, more than 27,000 people have given 200,000 hours of interviews. The HRS is managed jointly through a coopera- tive agreement between the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan. The study is designed, administered, and conducted by the ISR, and decisions about the study content are made by the investigators. The principal investiga- tors at the University of Michigan are joined by a cadre of co-investigators and working group members who are leading academic researchers from across the United States in a variety of disciplines, including economics, medicine, demography, psychology, public health, and survey methodology. In addition, the NIA is advised by a Data Monitoring Committee charged with maintain- ing HRS quality, keeping the survey relevant and attuned to the technical needs of researchers who use the data, and ensuring that it addresses the information needs of policymakers and the public. Since the study began, 7,000 people have registered to use the data, and nearly 1,000 researchers have employed the data to publish more than 1,000 reports, including more than 600 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and 70 doctoral dissertations. Figure A-1 shows that the number of studies using HRS data has grown rapidly as the scientific community becomes more aware of the richness and availability of the HRS data. In the coming years, the NIA seeks to expand even further the use of the HRS database, viewed by the Institute and experts worldwide as a valuable national research resource in aging. This publication seeks to engage new audiences of scientists, policymakers, media, and other communities with an interest in aging to use this treasure trove of data, by showcasing how the HRS can help examine the complex interplay of health, economic, and social factors affecting the lives of older people and their families. The chapters are organized into several broad themes. This introduction presents an overview of the HRS objectives, design, content, and uses. Subsequent chapters present content on health, work and retirement, income and wealth, and family characteristics and Every 2 years, thousands of older Americans tell their stories. Quietly, compellingly, they answer questions about every aspect of their lives—how they are feeling, how they are faring financially, how they are interacting with family and others. They do this as participants in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS), one of the most innovative studies ever conducted to better understand the nature of health and well-being in later life. The HRS’s purpose is to learn if individuals and families are preparing for the economic and health requirements of advancing age and the types of actions and interventions—at both the individual and societal levels—that can promote or threaten health and wealth in retirement. Now in its second decade, the HRS is the leading resource for data on the combined health and economic circumstances of Americans over age 50. intergenerational transfers. Data highlights are presented throughout. Objectives and Design of the HRS The HRS collects data to help: Explain the antecedents and consequences of retirement Examine the relationships among health, income, and wealth over time Examine life cycle patterns of wealth accumula- tion and consumption Monitor work disability Examine how the mix and distribution of eco- nomic, family, and program resources affect key outcomes, including retirement, “dissaving,” health declines, and institutionalization Designed over 18 months by a team of leading economists, demographers, psychologists, health researchers, survey methodologists, and policymakers, the study set out to provide each of these sciences with ongoing data collected in a methodologically sound and sophisticated way. Figure A-2 indicates the share of time during the hour-plus HRS interview that is devoted to three introduction