[Active life expectancy in Germany and in the United States. A cohort analysis based on the "German Socio-Economic Panel" (GSOEP) and the "Panel Study of Income Dynamics" (PSID)].

Using the method of multistate life-tables, the article presents results on active life expectancy on the basis of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). The transitions into and out of active life are based on event-history analysis and are calculated for different cohorts. Compared to cross-sectional analysis, the longitudinal analysis carried out here describes active life expectancy with reference to single birth cohorts. Results show that in Germany there has been substantial improvement in active life expectancy while in the USA there has been some deterioration.