TY - JOUR T1 - The Economic Consequences of a Husband's Death: Evidence from the HRS and AHEAD JF - Social Security Bulletin Y1 - 2004 A1 - Purvi Sevak A1 - David R Weir A1 - Robert J. Willis KW - Net Worth and Assets AB - This article examines the economic status of older widowed women in the 1990s using the Health and Retirement Study. Widowhood remains an important risk factor for transition into poverty, although somewhat less so than 20 years ago. Despite increased labor force participation rates among women and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) reforms, widows live with lower household earnings, pension income, and wealth than do married women. Women widowed at younger ages are at greatest risk for economic hardship after widowhood and their situation declines with the duration of widowhood. We also find that women in households that are least prepared financially for widowhood are at greatest risk of husband's death, because of the strong relationship between mortality and wealth. PB - 65 VL - 65 UR - https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v65n3/v65n3p31.html IS - 3 U4 - Widowhood/Economic Status ER -