Abstract

In this paper, we focus on residential mobility of the elderly when retiring. We propose a theoretical two-period model to explain housing choices. We show that individuals may want to increase or decrease their housing stock when retiring. We then describe the pattern of residential mobility for the elderly using two complementary French surveys. From data including retrospective questions on reasons for moving, we show that mobility can be explained by various consierations linked to family, geographic location, or housing size. Using some panel data, we study the housing adjustments when moving. We find that these adjustments lead to a correction of the initial disequilibrium position and that housing conditions are often improved after mobility.

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