In Lazear's model of long-term incentive contracts, age discrimination laws
barring age-based involuntary terminations preclude such contracts, reduci
ng efficiency.,Alternatively, such laws may serve as precommitment devices
for these contracts, without preventing films from offering strong financia
l incentives to induce retirement at specific ages. In this case, age discr
imination laws may encourage Lazear contracts, hence increasing efficiency.
We assess evidence on these alternative interpretations using variation in
state and federal age discrimination laws. The evidence indicates that age
discrimination la ws steepen age-earnings profiles for cohorts entering th
e labor market, suggesting that these laws encourage the use of Lazear cont
racts.