Zitatform

Lietzmann, Torsten, Stephanie Prümer & Philipp Ramos Lobato (2026): Aktivierung statt Frühverrentung? Die Neujustierung der Steuerungslogik gegenüber älteren Leistungsbeziehenden im Zuge der Bürgergeld-Reform. In: Sozialer Fortschritt, S. 1-23. DOI:10.3790/sfo.2026.1482201

Abstract

"Mit dem Bürgergeld-Gesetz, das Anfang 2023 in Kraft trat, wurden auch zwei arbeitsmarktpolitisch zentrale Änderungen für ältere Leistungsbeziehende der Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende beschlossen. Zum einen wurde die Pflicht zur vorzeitigen Inanspruchnahme einer Altersrente (§ 12a SGB II) bis Ende 2026 ausgesetzt, wodurch der Verbleib im Leistungsbezug über das 63. Lebensjahr hinaus erleichtert wird. Zum anderen wurde die Sonderregelung des § 53a SGB II abgeschafft, nach der ältere Leistungsbeziehende unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen aus der Arbeitslosenstatistik herausgenommen werden konnten. Der Beitrag argumentiert, dass diese Änderungen eine institutionelle Neujustierung der Steuerungslogik gegenüber älteren Leistungsbeziehenden darstellen: Der Druck zur Frühverrentung wird reduziert, während zugleich der Anspruch auf Arbeitsmarktintegration gestärkt wird. Auf Grundlage administrativer Daten der Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit sowie Befragungsdaten des IABJobcenterpanels zeigt der Beitrag, dass sich die Abgänge aus dem SGB-II-Bezug ab 63 Jahren verringert haben und die Arbeitslosmeldungen in der betreffenden Altersgruppe gestiegen sind. Hinweise auf eine tatsächliche Verbesserung der Arbeitsmarktintegration ergeben sich bislang jedoch nicht. Dies deutet auf strukturelle Grenzen einer stärkeren arbeitsmarktpolitischen Aktivierung älterer Leistungsbeziehender hin." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © Duncker & Humblot)

Zitatform

Badalyan, Sona (2025): Peer Effects in Old‑Age Employment Among Women. (IAB-Discussion Paper 13/2025), Nürnberg, 72 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.DP.2513

Abstract

"Dieses Papier nutzt eine einzigartige Situation des Normenwandels – eine deutsche Rentenreform, die das Renteneintrittsalter für Frauen und Männer angleichen sollte –, um zu untersuchen, wie Beschäftigung im höheren Alter über Arbeitsplatznetzwerke weitergegeben wird. Die Reform erhöhte das früheste Renteneintrittsalter von Frauen von 60 auf 63 Jahre für Kohorten, die ab 1952 geboren wurden. Unter Verwendung des Universums der Arbeitsgruppen aus den Sozialversicherungsdaten vergleiche ich Frauen, deren Kolleginnen knapp über oder unter der Reformgrenze lagen. Ich finde, dass Frauen eher im höheren Alter erwerbstätig bleiben, wenn ihre Kolleginnen dies tun, wobei die Effekte in den Regionen des ehemaligen Westdeutschlands mit traditionellen Geschlechternormen stärker ausfallen. Geschlechtsneutrale Rentenreformen verstärken somit ihren Effekt über den Einfluss von Kolleginnen und tragen zu einer regionalen Angleichung der Beschäftigungsmuster im späten Erwerbsleben bei." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Bratsberg, Bernt & Elena Stancanelli (2025): Gender norms and partners' joint retirement decisions: learning from a Norwegian reform. (Paris-Jourdan Science Economiques. Working paper 2025-31), Paris, 48 S.

Abstract

"We argue that gender norms may shape partners’ joint retirement decision. We study a 2011 pension reform in Norway, which incentivized postponing retirement for employees of many private sector firms. Using Norwegian register data, we construct population samples of older dual-earner couples in which only one partner was eligible for the reform, and link them to their mothers’ employment status when partners were young, to capture gender norms. Taking an event-study differences-in-differences approach, we find significant employment effects for the partner directly affected by the reform, and heterogeneous spillover effects for the other partner. In particular, women with an employed mother-in-law, but not those with a stay-home mother-inlaw, increase their employment, if their husband does so, due to the reform. In contrast, men with a stay-at-home mother are more likely to postpone retirement if their wife does so, following the reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Eiffe, Franz Ferdinand, Dragoș Adăscăliței, Karel Fric, Jessye Muller, Ricardo Rodriguez Contreras & Tina Weber (2025): Keeping older workers in the labour force. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Dublin, 77 S. DOI:10.2806/4361116

Abstract

"Europe’s population is ageing and has experienced natural decline since 2014, cushioned only by net migration. The working-age population is shrinking as the number of older individuals grows, a trend expected to continue with the retirement of the baby boom generation. This shift presents challenges for policymakers in relation to employment, living standards and welfare sustainability across EU Member States. This report aims to answer the question of how to keep older workers in employment as long as possible. It provides a comprehensive analysis of employment developments. It examines job quality differences across various age groups and analyses differences in job quality within the group of older workers. The report also explores the push and pull factors influencing employment trends across Europe and delves into the policies and practices implemented by Member States to keep older workers in the workforce. It highlights the critical role of social partners in shaping these outcomes and, finally, provides general pointers for policymakers to consider." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Jacobs, Lindsay & Suphanit Piyapromdee (2025): Labor Force Transitions at Older Ages: Burnout, Recovery, and Reverse Retirement. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 20616), London, 54 S.

Abstract

"Partial and reverse retirement are two key behaviors characterizing labor force dynamics for individuals at older ages, with half working part-time and over a third leaving and later re-entering the labor force at some point. The high rate of exit and re-entry is especially puzzling when considering the flat and declining wage profiles observed at older ages and uncertainty about future re-employment. Using Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data, we document the timing and prevalence of these behaviors and show that reverse retirees resemble permanent retirees across many observables, but differ notably in reported job stress and polygenic scores linked to stress sensitivity. To understand what drives these behaviors, we develop and estimate a dynamic model of retirement that incorporates uncertainty in wages and health, along with a novel “burnout-recovery” process representing the accumulation and dissipation of work-related stress. The model replicates key patterns in the data, accounting for over two-thirds of reverse retirement and 40 percent of transitions to part-time work—patterns that cannot be explained by health or wealth shocks alone. Our findings suggest that reverse retirement is largely a predictable response to recoverable stress rather than a reaction to shocks. Policy simulations show that part-time subsidies and sabbaticals enhance labor force attachment and welfare by reducing burnout, while eliminating the Retirement Earnings Test raises re-entry but also increases stress exposure. Together, these findings highlight the central role of stress dynamics in shaping retirement behavior and inform the design of policies to support work at older ages." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kantarcı, Tunga, Jim Been, Arthur van Soest & Daniël van Vuuren (2025): Partial retirement opportunities and the labor supply of older individuals. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 96. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2025.102739

Abstract

"We evaluate partial retirement options as an instrument to increase labor participation among older individuals. In a stated choice experiment, Dutch survey respondents were asked to choose among early, late and partial retirement scenarios purged from restrictions on part-time work and gradual retirement. Retirement scenario characteristics were randomized, generating rich variation in the choice options. The stated choices are validated using revealed preference data on (planned) retirement decisions. Using the stated choice data, we estimate a model that makes the trade-offs between leisure and income over the life cycle explicit, and use the estimated model for counterfactual policy simulations. We find that, as expected, higher (full) pension eligibility ages make actuarially fair (abrupt) early retirement more attractive and make late retirement less attractive, while about one in three respondents prefer partial retirement irrespective of the eligibility age. Early retirement becomes more attractive than late retirement when individuals do not have the partial retirement option. Moreover, the partial retirement decision is sensitive to financial incentives so that subsidizing partial retirement with higher wages or with more than actuarially fair pension increases for delaying retirement increases total labor supply. These findings demonstrate the potential of partial retirement as a policy instrument to stimulate labor participation, especially when pension eligibility is delayed." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.) ((en))

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Patki, Dhiren (2025): Breaking the Implicit Contract: Using Pension Freezes to Study Lifetime Labor Supply. In: Journal of Political Economy Macroeconomics, Jg. 3, H. 3, S. 305-342. DOI:10.1086/736925

Abstract

"This paper studies the elimination of defined benefit pensions and subsequent adoption of 401(k) plans by U.S. employers. Using matched employer-employee data linked to thousands of firm-level retirement plan changes, it shows that unexpected losses in future compensation engendered by pensions plan transitions induce premature retirement for some workers and delayed retirement for others. Heterogeneity in retirement behavior stems from differences in the relative strength of substitution and wealth effects. Exploiting treatment effects as estimation targets, it fits a model of retirement and uses the model to quantify welfare costs and labor supply effects of changes in workplace penstion structure." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Walwei, Ulrich (2025): Beiträge des Arbeitsmarktes zur Finanzierung der Alterssicherung. In: M. Ferber & S. Schmid (Hrsg.) (2025): Die Zukunft der Altersversorgung in Deutschland, S. 24-33.

Abstract

"Die absehbaren Veränderungen des Erwerbspersonenpotenzials haben nicht nur Folgen für den Arbeitsmarkt, sondern auch sozialpolitische Konsequenzen. Der Anteil der Bevölkerung über 65 Jahre in Relation zu den Erwerbspersonen (beispielsweise zwischen 20- und 64-Jährigen) wird weiter steigen. Der sogenannte „Altenquotient“ zeigt damit an, dass es ohne zusätzliche Erwerbspersonen immer schwerer werden wird, die Rentenversicherung nachhaltig zu finanzieren. Ein Ansatzpunkt, um dem entgegenzuwirken ist die Verbreitung der Basis des Erwerbspersonenpotenzials. Die Erschließung zusätzlicher Arbeitskräftereserven ist zwar kein Selbstläufer, aber auch alternativlos. Wichtige Felder sind in diesem Kontext die dauerhafte Stärkung der Erwerbsmigration sowie deutlich mehr Erwerbsanreize für die Beschäftigung von Älteren und Müttern. Nicht außer Acht lassen sollte man für die künftige Finanzierung der Altersvorsorge zudem Produktivitätserhöhungen und damit verbundene Lohnsteigerungen. Wollte man dies erreichen, ginge es um eine signifikante Stärkung von frühkindlicher und schulischer Bildung sowie von Aus- und Weiterbildung." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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Wanger, Susanne (2025): Flexible Übergänge in den Ruhestand: Verbreitung und Ausgestaltung von Altersteilzeit und Zeitwertkonten. (IAB-Forschungsbericht 24/2025), Nürnberg, 57 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FB.2524

Abstract

"Der demografische Wandel führt zu einer Schrumpfung und Alterung des Erwerbspersonenpotenzials. Daher wird es für Betriebe zunehmend wichtiger, gut qualifiziertes Personal möglichst lange zu halten. Vor diesem Hintergrund gewinnt die Erwerbsbeteiligung älterer Personen an Bedeutung, insbesondere die Frage, unter welchen Rahmenbedingungen deren Beschäftigungsfähigkeit möglichst lange erhalten und gefördert werden kann. Gleitende Übergänge in den Ruhestand, wie sie durch Altersteilzeit oder Langzeitkonten ermöglicht werden, können hierzu einen wertvollen Beitrag leisten. Dieser Forschungsbericht bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über die Gestaltung, Verbreitung und Nutzung dieser Regelungen. Anhand von Daten der IAB-Beschäftigtenhistorik wird zunächst die Entwicklung der Altersteilzeit analysiert. Dabei werden regionale und geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede sowie Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Inanspruchnahme nach Berufen, Belastungen, Betriebsgröße oder Branche beleuchtet. Zudem werden das Zu- und Abgangsalter der Altersteilzeitbeschäftigten, die Dauer der Altersteilzeit, das gewählte Arbeitszeitmodell und ausgeübte Nebentätigkeiten während dieser Phase berücksichtigt. Ende 2023 waren knapp 300.000 sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigte in Altersteilzeit tätig, was einer Nutzungsquote von rund 4 Prozent innerhalb der anspruchsberechtigten Altersgruppe der 55- bis 65-Jährigen entspricht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Altersteilzeit weiterhin häufig zur Verkürzung der Lebensarbeitszeit genutzt wird. So liegt das Zugangsalter zur Rente bei Altersteilzeitbeschäftigten deutlich niedriger als bei allen Versicherten. Aufgrund der starken Nutzung des sogenannten Blockmodells (80 %) erfolgt der tatsächliche Erwerbsausstieg nochmals früher. Zudem schließen Männer häufiger Altersteilzeitvereinbarungen ab als Frauen, da sie in der Regel mehr verdienen und seltener in Teilzeit arbeiten. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass die Altersteilzeit für Beschäftigte weiterhin in erster Linie dazu dient, über das Blockmodell früher aus dem Erwerbsleben auszusteigen. Für Betriebe stellt sie einen Weg dar, Personal sozialverträglich abzubauen und die Belegschaft zu verjüngen. Ergänzend untersucht der Forschungsbericht die betriebliche Verbreitung von Zeitkonten für längerfristige Freistellungen, die in den vergangenen Jahren an Bedeutung gewonnen haben. Mithilfe von Daten des IAB-Betriebspanels wird dargestellt, welche Betriebe Langzeitkonten anbieten und wofür die angesparten Zeitguthaben überwiegend verwendet werden. Bei Zeitkonten für längerfristige Arbeitsfreistellungen ist in den vergangenen Jahren ein Anstieg zu beobachten. Im Jahr 2022 gab es diese Option in rund 10 Prozent der Betriebe. Dabei steigt die Verbreitung mit zunehmender Betriebsgröße. Im Durchschnitt haben 18 Prozent der Beschäftigten Anspruch auf ein Zeitwertkonto. Tatsächlich genutzt hat es jedoch nur jeder dritte Anspruchsberechtigte, was 6 Prozent aller Beschäftigten entspricht. Langzeitkonten stehen tendenziell eher qualifizierteren Beschäftigten in größeren, tarifgebundenen Betrieben mit höherem Lohnniveau zur Verfügung. Die angesparten Zeitguthaben werden vor allem für Familienzeiten, Sabbaticals oder für Weiterbildungszeiten verwendet, seltener jedoch, um die Lebensarbeitszeit zu verkürzen. IAB-Forschungsbericht 24|2025 6 Insgesamt wird deutlich, dass die Möglichkeiten für ältere Beschäftigte, den Übergang in den Ruhestand flexibel zu gestalten, in der Praxis sehr unterschiedlich verteilt sind. Altersteilzeit und Zeitkonten für längerfristige Arbeitsfreistellungen sind vornehmlich in großen bzw. tarifgebundenen Betrieben zu finden. Ihre Inanspruchnahme hängt stark von den spezifischen Gegebenheiten der Betriebe ab. Häufig profitieren Beschäftigte mit besseren Arbeitsbedingungen und höheren Einkommen von diesen Regelungen, während Beschäftigte, die einen flexiblen Rentenbeginn am dringendsten benötigen würden, weniger Zugang zu diesen Möglichkeiten haben." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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De Brouwer, Octave & Ilan Tojerow (2024): Old-age unemployment and labour supply: an application to Belgium. In: Empirical economics, Jg. 67, H. 1, S. 253-287. DOI:10.1007/s00181-023-02544-1

Abstract

"Over the last two decades, social security reforms in several European countries have turned early retirement routes for older workers increasingly difficult. The size of the effects of these reforms on labor supply and social security transfers, and how these effects interact with workers' characteristics have yet to be measured. This article sheds light on this issue by exploring the consequences of postponing access to an old-age unemployment program—from age 58 to 60—in Belgium. The program provides laid-off workers with a combination of unemployment benefits and a monthly supplement paid by the employer until the full retirement age. Exploiting register data on the universe of workers and using a difference-in-difference identification strategy, the authors find that UCS eligibility negatively affects employment participation but also mitigates older workers' participation in other social security programs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Gudgeon, Matthew, Pablo Guzman, Johannes F. Schmieder, Simon Trenkle & Han Ye (2024): When Institutions Interact: How the Effects of Unemployment Insurance are Shaped by Retirement Policies. Ungated Version to NBER working paper 31807. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 31807 (ungated Version 2024)), Cambridge, Mass, 62 S.

Abstract

"In diesem Beitrag wird empirisch gezeigt, dass die Auswirkungen der Arbeitslosenversicherung (ALV) auf die Nichtbeschäftigung älterer Arbeitnehmer in erster Linie von der Struktur der Rentenpolitik abhängen. Anhand von deutschen Daten präsentieren wir zunächst Belege für diese Wechselwirkungen und dokumentieren eine starke Bündelung der Zuflüsse in die Arbeitslosenversicherung in dem Alter, in dem die Arbeitnehmer nach Ablauf der Arbeitslosenversicherung ihre Rente beantragen können. Anschließend schätzen wir ein dynamisches Lebenszyklusmodell und verwenden es, um direkt zu quantifizieren, wie die Auswirkungen der Arbeitslosenversicherung mit der Rentenpolitik variieren. Die Berücksichtigung von Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Institutionen der Sozialversicherung und des Ruhestands hilft auch bei der Erklärung von ansonsten schwer zu erklärenden Trends in der Arbeitslosenquote älterer deutscher Arbeitnehmer." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Hernaes, Erik, Simen Markussen, John Piggott & Knut Røed (2024): The impact of pension reform on employment, retirement, and disability insurance claims. In: Journal of Population Economics, Jg. 37, H. 4. DOI:10.1007/s00148-024-01052-5

Abstract

"We evaluate the 2011 comprehensive reform of Norwegian early retirement institutions using a parsimonious random utility choice model. Conditional on employment at age 60, we estimate a three-state conditional logit model to explain the realized labor market state at age 63 among the alternatives of employment, retirement, and disability program participation. The reform radically changed work incentives and/or pension access age for some (but not all) workers, such that the influence of economic incentives can be identified based on reform-generated variation only. We find that improved work incentives caused employment rates to rise considerably at the expense of early retirement and exit through disability insurance. Improved liquidity through a lower age to access own pension funds on actuarially neutral terms caused a small increase in employment and a large drop in disability program participation. Properly designed pension reforms thus need to take the interplay between old-age pension and disability insurance programs into account." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Klinges, Giulia, Alain Jousten & Mathieu Lefebvre (2024): Social Security and Inequality in Belgium. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 16735), Bonn, 37 S.

Abstract

"Over the years, the Belgian social security system has undergone substantial reform with a prime focus on increasing older worker labor force participation. The paper explores the effect of past reforms on inequality in old age. We distinguish two separate effects: The mechanical effect considers the change in inequality and expected benefit levels due to the reforms for a fixed retirement age distribution. The behavioral effect accounts for the endogenous change caused by changes in the incentives to work. Our results show that mechanically, reforms have led to losses in expected benefits for all but the lowest income quintile. Behavioral changes had a positive but orders of magnitude smaller effect. Overall, inequality decreased as a result of reforms." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Moghadam, Hamed Markazi, Patrick A. Puhani & Joanna Tyrowicz (2024): Pension reforms and couples’ labour supply decisions. In: Labour Economics, Jg. 91. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2024.102627

Abstract

"This study examines how retirement options for husbands and wives impact their labour supply decisions using a regression discontinuity design. In the context of German pension reforms, which have tightened early retirement possibilities, we find that coordination in retirement decisions between spouses was more prevalent and symmetrical before the reforms, but less so after. This sheds light on the role of early retirement possibilities in shaping couples’ reactions to one spouse’s retirement age." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2024 Elsevier) ((en))

Zitatform

Sousa-Ribeiro, Marta, Johanna Stengård, Constanze Leineweber & Claudia Bernhard-Oettel (2024): Are Trajectories of Preferred Retirement Ages Associated with Health, Work Ability and Effort–Reward Imbalance at Work? Findings from a 6-Year Swedish Longitudinal Study. In: Work, Aging and Retirement, Jg. 10, H. 3, S. 225-240. DOI:10.1093/workar/waad006

Abstract

"Preferred retirement age (PRA) is one key dimension when studying retirement decision-making. However, little is known concerning how PRA develops over the late career years. This study used a person-centered approach to longitudinally investigate trajectories of PRA and how they differ in self-rated health, perceived work ability, and effort–reward imbalance (ERI) at baseline levels and over 6 years. The study used data from four waves (2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016) of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health. The sample consisted of 1,510 individuals aged 50–55 in 2010, who answered to the questionnaire for those in paid work (including self-employment) at the baseline and at least one of the following waves. Results from the latent class growth curve modeling show both within- and between-person variability in PRA over the 6-year span. We found four distinct trajectories, which differed both at the baseline levels and in the patterns of change in PRA: “C1: normative, relatively stable PRA” (42% of all participants); “C2: considerably early, increasing PRA” (6% of the participants); “C3: late, relatively stable PRA” (4% of the participants); and “C4: early, increasing PRA” (49% of the participants). Participants revealed a clear preference for retirement before the age of 65. Trajectories comprising earlier PRA showed poorer self-rated health, poorer work ability, and higher levels of ERI at the baseline and over time. The findings reinforce the importance of healthy work environments that promote work ability and facilitate a balance between efforts and rewards for encouraging longer working lives." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Taber, Christopher, Ananth Seshadri & Xiaodong Fan (2024): Estimation of a Life-Cycle Model with Human Capital, Labor Supply, and Retirement. In: Journal of Political Economy, Jg. 132, H. 1, S. 48-95. DOI:10.1086/726232

Abstract

"We estimate a life-cycle model of consumption, human capital investment, and labor supply. The interaction between human capital and labor supply towards the end of the life cycle is most novel. The estimates replicate the main features of the data, in particular the large increase in wages and small increase in labor supply at the beginning of the life cycle and the small decrease in wages but large decrease in labor supply towards the end. We show that incorporating human capital is critical when analyzing changes to Social Security." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Walwei, Ulrich (2024): Older Workers in Germany: Employment Potentials in International Comparison. (IAB-Forschungsbericht 14/2024 (en)), Nürnberg, 24 S. DOI:10.48720/IAB.FB.2414EN

Abstract

"In vielen Staaten der westlichen Welt erreichen die geburtenstarken Jahrgänge mehr und mehr das Rentenalter. Da weniger junge Arbeitskräfte in den Arbeitsmarkt nachrücken als Ältere ausscheiden, sinkt unter sonst gleichen Bedingungen die Zahl der verfügbaren Arbeitskräfte. Gleichzeitig wachsen die Finanzierungsprobleme in der Rentenversicherung, denn insbesondere in den international weit verbreiteten Umlagesystemen zahlen immer weniger Menschen in die Altersvorsorge ein. Gleichzeitig wächst der Anteil der Rentenbeziehenden. Vor diesem Hintergrund rückt die Erwerbsbeteiligung älterer Personen verstärkt in den Fokus. Der Bericht startet mit einer Übersicht der Erwerbsarbeit von Älteren in einem breiteren internationalen Vergleich. Dem folgt eine Situationsbeschreibung für Deutschland. Im Anschluss soll ein genauerer Blick auf die Länder gerichtet werden, die bei der Erwerbstätigkeit Älterer ganz vorne stehen. Es geht darum, Anhaltspunkte für diejenigen Faktoren zu erhalten, die das hohe Beschäftigungsniveau der Älteren in diesen Ländern begünstigt haben könnten. Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland hat bei der Beschäftigung Älterer in den letzten Dekaden deutlich aufgeholt. Dies gilt insbesondere für die 50-64-Jährigen. Im Vergleich zu den Spitzenländern fehlen mittlerweile nur noch wenige Prozentpunkte. Ein größerer Rückstand besteht allerdings noch bei den 65- bis 74-Jährigen. Der künftige Abstand zu anderen Ländern wird bei dieser Altersgruppe durch gegenläufige Entwicklungen beeinflusst. Durch die weiteren Schritte in Richtung der „Rente mit 67“ dürfte er sich vermutlich weiter verringern, durch die „Rente mit 63“ aber verlangsamt werden. Deutschland wird mit Blick auf die Erwerbstätigenquoten Älterer aber noch von einigen Ländern übertroffen. Hier stellt sich die Frage, welche Faktoren hinter der günstigen Entwicklung des Arbeitsmarktes für Ältere in diesen Ländern stehen könnten. Zu Vergleichszwecken wird in diesem Bericht die Situation in Japan, Neuseeland, Island, Norwegen und Schweden näher betrachtet, die weltweit die höchsten Erwerbstätigenquoten von Älteren aufweisen. Dabei werden nacheinander verschiedene, für die Erwerbstätigkeit Älterer bedeutsame Aspekte aus einer international vergleichenden Perspektive beleuchtet. Der Vergleich ergibt eine ganze Reihe von wichtigen Punkten, an die in anderen Ländern angeknüpft werden könnte. Die hohe Alterserwerbstätigkeit in Island, Schweden und Norwegen steht in Verbindung mit der in beiden Ländern hohen Frauenerwerbsbeteiligung und kontinuierlichen Verbesserungen im Bildungsniveau der Bevölkerung, einschließlich der beruflichen Weiterbildung. Neuseeland weist einen geringen Lohnabstand von Älteren gegenüber Jüngeren und hohe Einstellungsquoten Älterer auf, die zudem auch das Ergebnis einer konsequenten und öffentlich wahrnehmbaren Antidiskriminierungspolitik sind. In Japan spielen der demografisch bedingt sehr starke Arbeitskräftebedarf und Einkommensbedarfe auf individueller Ebene eine offenbar sehr große Rolle, da viele Ältere dort erwerbstätig sein müssen, um ihren Lebensunterhalt zu sichern. Hohe bzw. steigende Erwerbstätigenquoten Älterer sind grundsätzlich kein Selbstläufer. Sie setzen eine gute Bildung und Qualifikation auf der individuellen Ebene sowie die Möglichkeit und Befähigung zu lebenslangem Lernen voraus. Auch gesundheitliche Prävention ist für ein langes Erwerbsleben wichtig, die wie die Bildung am besten so früh wie möglich beginnt. Hohe Erwerbstätigenquoten Älterer werden nicht nur durch die individuelle Beschäftigungsfähigkeit begünstigt, sondern auch durch die Attraktivität des Arbeitsmarkts und damit der für Ältere erreichbaren Beschäftigung. Je besser es gelingt, Kompetenzen und Fähigkeiten der Älteren zu stärken, alters- und alternsgerechte Arbeit zu organisieren und flexibel auf Beschäftigtenwünsche einzugehen, desto größer ist die Chance, Ältere am Arbeitsmarkt zu halten oder zurückzugewinnen. Schließlich sind auch Regulierungen und Förderprogramme ins Blickfeld zu nehmen, die Anreize für Beschäftigung im Alter setzen. Zu nennen sind hier die Flexibilität des Rentenzugangs, arbeitsrechtliche Erleichterungen bei der Weiterbeschäftigung im Alter, die Bezugsdauer des Arbeitslosengelds für Ältere sowie die Berücksichtigung älterer Arbeitsloser in der aktiven Arbeitsmarktpolitik." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

Zitatform

Brugiavini, Agar & Petru Crudu (2023): The Role of Disability Insurance on the Labour Market Trajectories of Europeans. (Working papers / Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Dipartimento di Economia 2023,20), Venezia, 81 S.

Abstract

"This work documents the role played by disability insurance, typically part of a wider public pension provision package, on the labour market trajectories and retirement decisions. We will first employ a machine learning approach to estimate a Transition Probability Model able to uncover the most likely labour market histories and then evaluate the effects of policy reforms, including reforms to the eligibility for disability insurance benefits. The main contribution is the introduction of disability insurance programs within a framework, which models the entire life course of older Europeans. This requires the detailed administrative eligibility criteria prevailing in each of the 11 countries from 1970 to 2017. Results show that the disability route and early retirement are substitutes. In addition, tightening eligibility rules of disability programs crowd out disabled workers, whose reductions in working capacities are correctly assessed, towards other compensatory schemes (e.g., unemployment benefits or early pension) in which working is not expected. On the contrary, individuals with over-assessed reductions in working capacities are the most reactive to disability policy restrictions. In conclusion, efficient disability assessment procedures are crucial for incentivising labour market participation without hurting individuals most in need." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fernández, Juan J., Gema García-Albacete, Antonio M. Jaime-Castillo & Jonas Radl (2023): Priming or learning? The influence of pension policy information on individual preferences in Germany, Spain and the United States. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 33, H. 3, S. 337-352. DOI:10.1177/09589287231164347

Abstract

"A promising approach to pension policy preferences focuses on the influence of policy related information. We advance this research programme by examining the impact of information about future pension benefits, including whether information effects occur through priming, learning or both. Drawing on a novel, split-sample survey experiment in the US, Germany and Spain, we examine the impact of information on forecasted pension replacement rates for 2040 on pension policy attitudes. Findings indicate that the information treatment increases support for the two outcomes considered: (i) increases in the pensionable age and (ii) greater spending on pensions relative to other social programmes. Analyses of heterogeneous treatment effects accounting for prior beliefs of participants show that information effects occur both through priming and learning. The study concludes that hard, non-partisan information increases support for reforms that foster the financial sustainability of pension systems, although the scope of information effects depends on contextual conditions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Focacci, Chiara Natalie, Gülin Öylü, Andreas Motel-Klingebiel & Susanne Kelfve (2023): The value of pension reforms for late working life: evidence from Sweden. In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Jg. 43, H. 13/14, S. 79-89. DOI:10.1108/IJSSP-02-2023-0038

Abstract

"Purpose: Driven by the aim to increase the participation of older people in the labor force and to extend people's working lives, the Swedish Parliament passed a bill in 1998 to increase the pension eligibility age from 60 to 61 years and establish a notional defined-contribution (NDC) plan. In this article, the authors investigate the impacts towards the prolongation of working lives expected from such an intervention. Design/methodology/approach The authors apply a multinomial probabilistic model based on Swedish registry data on the birth cohorts 1937–1938 (n  = 102,826) and observe differences in exit behaviour between eligible and non-eligible individuals. Findings: The authors find that the cohorts eligible to the pension reform exit the labor market at a later age compared to non-eligible cohorts at the 61-years cut-off. The authors also find that the effect persists in the long term. Furthermore, the authors find that both men and women are equally struck by the reform. Originality/value While there exist many descriptive reports and theoretical analyses on the costs and benefits of pension reforms, this study is the first one to empirically analyse the effect of the first European NDC pay-as-you go pension plan on the potential exclusion of old-aged workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))

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Geyer, Johannes (2023): Erwerbsminderungsrente: Weiterer Reformbedarf. In: Wirtschaftsdienst, Jg. 103, H. 5, S. 290. DOI:10.2478/wd-2023-0089

Abstract

"Der Verlust der Erwerbsfähigkeit ist ein unterschätztes Einkommensrisiko. Erwerbsminderung ist für die überwiegende Mehrheit gleichbedeutend mit dem Wegfall ihrer wichtigsten Einkommensquelle, ihrem Lohn. Der Konsum wird dann aus einer Erwerbsminderungsrente, Transferleistungen, dem Einkommen anderer Haushaltsmitglieder, eigener Erwerbstätigkeit in geringem Stundenumfang und, falls vorhanden, Erspartem bestritten. Immerhin gehen rund 160.000 Menschen jährlich in eine Erwerbsminderungsrente. Im Rentenbestand sind es 1,8 Mio. Menschen, hinzu kommen etwa 2,7 Mio. Menschen, die inzwischen eine Altersrente beziehen. Bezogen auf alle Alters- und Erwerbsminderungsrenten liegt der Anteil der ursprünglich Erwerbsgeminderten bei immerhin 22 %." (Textauszug, IAB-Doku)

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Gudgeon, Matthew, Pablo Guzman, Johannes F. Schmieder, Simon Trenkle & Han Ye (2023): When Institutions Interact: How the Effects of Unemployment Insurance are Shaped by Retirement Policies. (NBER working paper / National Bureau of Economic Research 31807), Cambridge, Mass, 62 S.

Abstract

"This paper shows empirically that the non-employment effects of unemployment insurance (UI) for older workers depend in a first-order way on the structure of retirement policies. Using German data, we first present reduced-form evidence of these interactions, documenting large bunching in UI inflows at the age that allows workers to claim their pension following UI expiration. We then estimate a dynamic life-cycle model and use it to directly quantify how the effects of UI vary with retirement policies. Accounting for interactions across UI and retirement institutions also helps explain otherwise difficult-to-explain trends in the unemployment rate of older German workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Heer, Burkhard & Mark Trede (2023): Age-specific entrepreneurship and PAYG: Public pensions in Germany. In: Journal of macroeconomics, Jg. 75. DOI:10.1016/j.jmacro.2022.103488

Abstract

"We present new empirical evidence on the distribution of earnings, income and wealth among entrepreneurs in Germany. We document that both earnings and income are more concentrated among entrepreneurs than among workers and describe a large-scale overlapping-generations model that replicates the age-earnings profiles of these two household types. As an application, we compute the equilibrium effects of a reform of the German pay-as-you-go pension system in which entrepreneurs must also contribute and receive a pension. We show that in the presence of mobility between workers and entrepreneurs, the expected lifetime utility of all newborn households unanimously declines due to the general equilibrium effects of lower aggregate savings, and welfare losses amount to approximately 0.7% of total consumption. In addition, the integration of self-employed workers into the social security system in Germany does not help to improve its fiscal sustainability, and only an increase in the retirement age to 70 years will help to finance pensions at the present level beyond the year 2050." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2023 Elsevier) ((en))

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Moghadam, Hamed Markazi, Patrick A. Puhani & Joanna Tyrowicz (2023): Pension Reforms and Couples' Labour Supply Decisions. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 16039), Bonn, 43 S.

Abstract

"To determine how wives' and husbands' retirement options affect their spouses' (and their own) labour supply decisions, we exploit (early) retirement cutoffs by way of a regression discontinuity design. Several German pension reforms since the early 1990s have gradually raised women's retirement age from 60 to 65, but also increased ages for several early retirement pathways affecting both sexes. We use German Socio-Economic Panel data for a sample of couples aged 50 to 69 whose retirement eligibility occurred (i) prior to the reforms, (ii) during the transition years, and (iii) after the major set of reforms. We find that, prior to the reforms, when several retirement options were available to both husbands and wives, both react almost symmetrically to their spouse reaching an early retirement age, that is both husband and wife decrease their labour supply by about 5 percentage points when the spouse reaches age 60). This speaks in favour of leisure complementarities. However, after the set of reforms, when retiring early was much more difficult, we find no more significant labour supply reaction to the spouse reaching a retirement age, whereas reaching one's own retirement age still triggers a significant reaction in labour supply. Our results may explain some of the diverse findings in the literature on asymmetric reactions between husbands and wives to their spouse reaching a retirement age: such reactions may in large parts depend on how flexibly workers are able to retire." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Sacco, Lawrence B., Laurie M. Corna, Debora Price & Karen Glaser (2023): Pathways of participation in paid and unpaid work in mid to later life in the United Kingdom. In: Ageing & Society, Jg. 43, H. 9, S. 2067-2094. DOI:10.1017/S0144686X21001537

Abstract

"Policy responses to population ageing have focused on lengthening working lives, overlooking inequalities in older adults’ participation in unpaid activities. This paper examines participation in paid and unpaid activities between the ages of 55 and 70 to answer two questions: how do people navigate pathways of paid work, informal care, volunteering, civic participation and housework in mid to later life?; and how do these pathways relate to gender, socio-economic and health inequalities? Two-staged latent class analysis was used to identify activity pathways using data from the British Household Panel Survey (1996–2008). Multinomial logistic models assessed associations between latent pathways and socio-demographic and health characteristics. Three pathways were observed: full-time work to low activity (49%), part-time and in-home work (34%) and multiple activities (16%). Aside from retirement from full-time work, the pathways of participation in paid and unpaid activities were characterised by continuity; substitution between different forms of paid and unpaid work was not observed. Participation in multiple paid and unpaid activities was more common for respondents in better health and of higher socio-economic status. Since the promotion of paid work and volunteering in later life may mainly benefit individuals in advantaged circumstances, policies should avoid taking a blanket approach to encouraging participation in multiple activities, a key component of active ageing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Becker, Sebastian, Hermann Buslei, Johannes Geyer & Peter Haan (2022): The Effect of Pension Wealth on Employment. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 15836), Bonn, 49 S.

Abstract

"This study provides novel evidence about the pension wealth elasticity of employment. For the identification we exploit reform-induced variation of pension wealth that is related to the number of children but which does not affect the implicit tax rate of employment. We use a difference-in-differences estimator based on administrative data from the German pension insurance and find that, on average, the negative employment effect of pension wealth is significant and economically important. Heterogeneity analyses document a strong age pattern showing that the employment effects are driven by behavioral responses of women close to retirement. The age pattern is partly explained by the positive effect of pension wealth on disability pensions after the age of 60." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Blank, Florian & Erik Türk (2022): Altersrenten und sozialer Ausgleich in Deutschland und Österreich – ein Vergleich anhand von Modellrechnungen. In: Sozialer Fortschritt, Jg. 71, H. 2, S. 139-163. DOI:10.3790/sfo.71.2.139

Abstract

"Die Gegenüberstellung der Rentenansprüche für einheitliche, idealtypische Biografien ermöglicht den Vergleich von Unterschieden der Rentensysteme selbst. Die von der OECD erstellten Modellbiografien mit durchgehenden Erwerbsverläufen, abschlagsfreiem Renteneintritt und stabilen Einkommenspositionen bilden den Ausgangspunkt für den Vergleich der Rentenversicherungen Deutschlands und Österreichs. Die Vorgehensweise der OECD wird dargestellt, sofern erforderlich korrigiert, aktualisiert und weiterentwickelt. Zusätzlich werden Arbeitslosigkeit, vorzeitiger Renteneintritt sowie Kindererziehungszeiten berücksichtigt. Durch diese Ergänzungen werden eine höhere Realitätsanbindung erreicht und Elemente des sozialen Ausgleichs einbezogen. Es zeigt sich, dass die österreichische Pensionsversicherung in jeder Konstellation deutlich höhere Leistungen gewährt, die Elemente des sozialen Ausgleichs den Abstand teils vergrößern, teils verringern." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Bloemen, Hans (2022): Job search requirements for older unemployed workers. Search requirements for the older unemployed affect their re-employment rates and their flows into states of inactivity. (IZA world of labor 235,2), Bonn, 11 S. DOI:10.15185/izawol.235.v2

Abstract

"Politische Maßnahmen zur Aktivierung älterer Arbeitnehmer sind in vielen OECD-Länder mit rasch alternden Bevölkerungen von großer Bedeutung. Forschungsergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Integration Älterer in die allgemein an Arbeitslose gestellten Suchanforderungen zu einem verstärkten Übergang in Beschäftigung führen kann. Als negativer Begleiteffekt ist allerdings eine Zunahme von Inaktivität, etwa durch Berufsunfähigkeit, zu berücksichtigen. Insgesamt kann eine Strategie, die konkrete Suchanforderungen an ältere Arbeitslose stellt und mit einem Monitoringverfahren verbindet, die Wiederbeschäftigung von Älteren deutlich stärken." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Freeman, Richard B. (2022): Planning for the “Expected Unexpected”: Work and Retirement in the U.S. After the COVID-19 Pandemic Shock. (NBER working paper 29653), Cambridge, Mass, 33 S. DOI:10.3386/w29653

Abstract

"This chapter analyzes the implications of the unexpected 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic for work and retirement in the U.S. The pandemic induced the greatest loss of jobs in the shortest period of time in U.S. history. A slow economic recovery would surely have endangered work longer/retire later policies that seek to adjust the finances of Social Security retirement to an aging population. Boosted by the huge CARES (March 2020) and ARPA (April 2021) rescue packages, the early recovery from the COVID-19 recession was faster and stronger than the recovery from the 2007-2009 Great Recession. Even so, the pandemic greatly altered the job market, with workers suffering from long COVID having difficulty returning to work and more workers working from home. In its immediate effect and potential long-run impact, the pandemic recession/recovery is a wake-up call to the danger that shocks from the natural world pose to work and retirement. Realistic planning for the future of work and retirement should go beyond analyzing socioeconomic trends to analyzing expected unexpected changes from the natural world as well." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Geyer, Johannes, Peter Haan, Svenja Lorenz, Thomas Zwick & Mona Bruns (2022): The role of labor demand in the labor market effects of a pension reform. In: Industrial Relations, Jg. 61, H. 2, S. 152-192. DOI:10.1111/irel.12293

Abstract

"This paper shows that labor demand plays an important role in the labor market reactions to a pension reform in Germany. Employers with a high share of older worker inflow compared with their younger worker inflow, employers in sectors with few investments in research and development, and employers in sectors with a high share of collective bargaining agreements allow their employees to stay employed longer after the reform. These employers offer their older employees partial retirement instead of forcing them into unemployment before early retirement because the older employees incur low substitution costs and high dismissal costs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Gross, Brigitte, Silke Brüggemann & Marco Streibelt (2022): Überblick zu Trends und Entwicklungen von Erwerbsminderungsrenten. In: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Jg. 77, H. 3, S. 242-254.

Abstract

"Die jährlichen Zugänge in die Erwerbsminderungsrente sind seit über einem Jahrzehnt mit etwa 180 000 neuen Fällen pro Jahr trotz unterschiedlicher gesetzlicher Änderungen vergleichsweise stabil. Dem stehen - ebenfalls stabil und trotz des Grundsatzes "Reha vor Rente" - eine nur mäßige Inanspruchnahme von Rehabilitationsleistungen vor einer Erwerbsminderungsrente und nur wenige Abgänge in aktive Arbeit entgegen. Der folgende Beitrag beleuchtet Hintergründe für diese Entwicklung und stellt die aktuell verfügbaren Handlungsoptionen der Deutschen Rentenversicherung überblicksartig dar. Hierbei wird in besonderer Weise auf die Bedeutung des umfassenden Ansatzes des Fallmanagements eingegangen und aufgezeigt, welche Herausforderungen, aber auch Entwicklungsoptionen bestehen, um dem eigentlichen Auftrag der Rentenversicherung, der Wiederherstellung der Erwerbsfähigkeit und damit der Sicherstellung von Teilhabe am Arbeitsleben, zukünftig noch besser gerecht zu werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Lorenz, Svenja, Thomas Zwick & Mona Bruns (2022): Beware of the employer: Financial incentives for employees may fail to prolong old-age employment. In: The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Jg. 21. DOI:10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100363

Abstract

"We show that a stepwise increase in the normal retirement age (NRA) by up to five years and the introduction of actuarial pension deductions for retirement before NRA was ineffective in prolonging employment of older men after early retirement age. We argue that the ineffectiveness of the German pension reform resulted from a change in employer behavior that was mainly induced by a recession during the implementation period of the pension reform. Employers seem to have nudged their employees to use a bridge option that was introduced with the pension reform (partial retirement) or a traditional bridge option (unemployment). These bridge options allowed an early retirement age (ERA) of 60 instead of the only alternative early retirement option with an ERA of 63. Bridge options therefore offered employers an opportunity to terminate employment considerably earlier and exert more influence over the employment exit age. We argue that without a change in employer behavior, neither using one of the bridge options nor the earlier employment exit would have been utility maximizing for the individuals affected by the reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Elsevier) ((en))

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Lucifora, Claudio & Martina Repetto (2022): Big five personality traits and retirement decisions. In: Labour, Jg. 36, H. 1, S. 1-28. DOI:10.1111/labr.12210

Abstract

"We estimate the effect of the Big Five personality traits on the retirement decisions of individuals aged between 50 and 80 years in fourteen European countries, using wave 7 from the SHARE data. We investigate the probability of retirement and a measure of the distance between actual retirement and ordinary retirement age. Overall, we find that personality affects retirement decisions, and the effects are similar across gender. Openness to experience, conscientiousness and extraversion are generally associated with a delay in retirement decisions, whereas neuroticism anticipates the exit from the labour market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Sohier, Lieze, Bart Defloor, Luc Van Ootegem & Elsy Verhofstadt (2022): Determinants of the Willingness to Retire of Older Workers in Europe. In: Social indicators research, Jg. 164, H. 3, S. 1017-1041. DOI:10.1007/s11205-022-02991-w

Abstract

"Many European countries are facing the challenge of increasing the effective retirement age. Increasing the effective retirement age also requires that older employees are voluntarily willing to continue working. A worker who is willing to retire but is not allowed to retire might experience a negative impact on his or her well-being. This articles studies the determinants of the willingness to retire: the job, health, and financial situation of the older worker, and other socio-demographic characteristics. To do this, the micro data of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe are used, which contains a binary question about willingness to retire. Based on the random effects logit estimator, we find that the job situation of the worker and the retirement of the partner are important drivers of the willingness to retire. Specifically, those willing to retire are more frequently employed in jobs that are mentally and physically demanding. They also feel less appreciated by the management or their colleagues and report to have fewer opportunities to get promotion. The willingness to retire is higher if the older worker has a retired partner. In the countries with the lowest rates of willingness to retire, the workers have better working conditions and are more easily able to make ends meet." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Toczek, Lisa, Hans Bosma & Richard Peter (2022): Early retirement intentions: the impact of employment biographies, work stress and health among a baby-boomer generation. In: European Journal of Ageing, Jg. 19, H. 4, S. 1479-1491. DOI:10.1007/s10433-022-00731-0

Abstract

"In recent years, early retirement decisions have become more frequent in the European Union despite political efforts to prevent early retirement. This is a growing problem for the social security system. The study focuses on a life course approach using employment biographies and investigates the influence of work stress and health on early retirement intentions. Data of employees who were born in either 1959 or 1965 of the German cohort study on work, age, health and work participation are analysed (n = 3338). By linking survey and register data from 1993 to 2011, a sequence analysis is conducted to identify employment biographies. To analyse the relationship between the employment biographies and intended early retirement, a longitudinal path analysis is computed and includes work stress, measured through effort-reward imbalance, and self-rated health. The statistical analyses identify three adverse employment biographies, i.e. part-time work, episodes of unemployment or marginal employment. In addition, two favourable employment biographies are determined, characterised by full-time work and few episodes of unemployment. The results of the path analysis show that employment biographies with high work-related stress have early retirement intentions. Among adverse employment biographies, indirect effects of poor health on the association between work stress and early retirement intentions are found. Unexpectedly, among full-time workers, work stress is also associated with early retirement intentions with an additional mediation through health. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the life course perspective when analysing retirement decisions. In addition to health-promoting interventions in the labour market, effects of psychosocial factors should be focussed on in order to reduce early exits from the labour market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Werding, Martin (2022): Is a Pension Reform Needed in Germany? In: CESifo forum, Jg. 23, H. 2, S. 58-62.

Abstract

"Germany is being hit relatively hard by demographic aging. The latest round of major pension reforms dates back to the period from 2001 to 2007. The last government tried to prepare a new reform, but failed to reach a consensus. The new coalition government is not pursuing these plans any further. This article describes the changes in existing rules that the coalition is nevertheless considering and discusses actual reform needs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Wikström, Ewa, Karin Allard, Rebecka Arman, Roy Liff, Daniel Seldén & Roland Kadefors (2022): Organisational Capability for Delayed Retirement. In: H. F. Erhag, U. L. Nilsson, T. R. Sterner & I. Skoog (Hrsg.) (2022): ¬A¬ Multidisciplinary Approach to Capability in Age and Ageing, S. 221-232. DOI:10.1007/978-3-030-78063-0_16

Abstract

"Throughout the industrialised world, societies are ageing. These demographic changes have created a political and societal focus on an extended working life. Unfortunately, there is a lack of systematic knowledge about how such changes can be successfully implemented within organisations. In this chapter, we discuss this lacuna and specifically focus on organisational capability. We highlight workplace conditions and practices that may inhibit or promote the retention of workers beyond the previous norm for retirement. The novelty of an organisational capability approach is that it highlights workplace conditions that enable older people to use their abilities to perform acts of value and to achieve a better quality of life and greater participation in society. Workplace resources, capabilities and functions form a dynamic pattern. Factors that influence the work abilities of older workers are related in complex interactions and not merely in the format of simple cause and effect. When looking at retirement from the perspective of older workers, we have focused on aspects such as the individual’s ability to control the retirement process. Central to Sen’s idea is that individuals have different conversion factors, which means that, even though two individuals may have access to the same resources, they do not necessarily have the capability to enjoy the same functions. For example, the probability that an older person will remain employed will partially depend on his or her health, human capital and type of job. But two seemingly similar individuals can nevertheless have very different chances of remaining employed because their employer has implemented very different age management policies, or simply because they have different attitudes towards older workers. Since organisational capability makes it possible to focus on the interaction between the individual’s resources and preferences and the opportunity structure existing at the workplace (meso level) and embodied in the retirement system (macro level), much of the discussion and many of the policies and practices concerning older people can be related to the concept of capabilities." (Author's abstract, © Springer) ((en))

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Zwick, Thomas, Mona Bruns, Johannes Geyer & Svenja Lorenz (2022): Early retirement of employees in demanding jobs: Evidence from a German pension reform. In: The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Jg. 22. DOI:10.1016/j.jeoa.2022.100387

Abstract

"Early retirement options are usually targeted at employees at risk of not reaching their regular retirement age in employment. An important at-risk group comprises older employees who have worked in demanding jobs for many years. This group may be particularly negatively affected by the abolition of early retirement options. To measure differences in labor market reactions of employees in low- and high-demand jobs, we exploit the quasinatural experiment of a cohort-specific pension reform that increased the early retirement age for women from 60 to 63 years. Based on a large administrative dataset, we use a regression-discontinuity approach to estimate the labor market reactions. Surprisingly, we find the same relative employment increase of about 25% for treated women who were exposed to low and to high job demand. For older women in demanding jobs, we also do not find substitution effects into unemployment, partial retirement, disability pension, or inactivity. Eligibility for the abolished early retirement option required high labor market attachment. Thus, we argue that this eligibility rule induced a positive selection of healthy workers into early retirement. We propose alternative policies that protect workers exposed to high job demand better against the negative consequences of being unable to reach their statutory retirement age in employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Elsevier) ((en))

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Barschkett, Mara, Johannes Geyer, Peter Haan & Anna Hammerschmid (2021): The Effects of an Increase in the Retirement Age on Health. Evidence from Administrative Data. (DIW-Diskussionspapiere 1985), Berlin, 61 S.

Abstract

"This study analyzes the causal effect of an increase in the retirement age on health. We exploit a sizable cohort-specific pension reform for women using two complementary empirical approaches – a Regression Discontinuity Design and a Difference-in-Differences approach. The analysis is based on official records covering all individuals insured by the public health system in Germany and including all certified diagnoses by practitioners. This enables us to gain a detailed understanding of the multi-dimensionality in these health effects. The empirical findings reflect the multidimensionality but allow for deriving two broader conclusions. We provide evidence that the increase in the retirement age negatively affects health outcomes as the prevalence of several diagnoses, e.g., mental health, musculoskeletal diseases, and obesity, increases. In contrast, we do not find support for an improvement in health related to a prolonged working life since there is no significant evidence for a reduction in the prevalence of any health outcome we consider. These findings hold for both identification strategies, are robust to sensitivity checks, and do not change when correcting for multiple hypothesis testing." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Eckrote-Nordland, Marissa Dae (2021): Three Essays in Labor Economics. Michigan, 86 S. DOI:10.25335/ks2e-de95

Abstract

"This dissertation is comprised of three chapters analyzing how establishments react to increases in pensionable age. Chapter 1: Understanding the Impact of Postponed Retirements on the Hiring Decisions of Firms The solvency of public pension systems in countries with pay-as-you-go pension schemes have led many of these countries to adopt changes in the age of eligibility for full-benefits. One such country is Germany who implemented a change in their pensionable age in a major reform enacted in 1992. There have been multiple studies that have looked at the effectiveness of this reform in terms of older workers delaying their retirements. However, less is known about how firms have reacted to these changes and if these changes in policy have caused firms to change their hiring behavior. Using administrative linked employer-employee data I exploit pre-policy variation in worker age distributions to serve as a source of identification for studying how employers reacted in-terms-of hiring behavior. I find that firms that had a higher share of older workers, and thus were impacted more by the change in pensionable age, decreased their hiring. For a one percentage-point increase in the share of workers who are predicted to have retired under the old pension system the share of workers that are new hires decreases by 0.324 percentage points. This is a 2.16% decrease at the mean. When smaller age bins are studied, I find that this negative impact is found for those aged under 25 and those age 25-34. In contrast there is a positive impact on individuals age 45-54, 55-64, and over 65. When looking at contract types there is an over 7% decrease in the hires of trainees and an over 10% increase in the hires of workers on partial retirement contracts. Chapter 2: Effect of Postponed Retirements on Wage Growth of Younger Workers (with Peter Berg, Mary Hamman, Daniela Hochfellner, Matthew M. Piszczek and Christopher Ruhm) This paper uses linked-employer-employee data to examine the effects of postponed retirements on the wage progression of younger workers within establishments. A German pension reform is the source of identification. We find no evidence of slower wage growth. Instead we find faster wage growth, especially among workers aged 41 to 57. We cannot rule out separations as a mechanism, but patterns in estimates by age and tenure are not consistent with layoffs. Instead, we find evidence of less frequent promotions and we interpret the wage findings as consistent with compensating wage differentials for postponed promotions Chapter 3: Pension Reforms and their Implications for Establishment Downsizing (with Peter Berg, Mary Hamman, Daniela Hochfellner, Matthew M. Piszczek and Christopher Ruhm) While the empirical literature on the effects of pension reform on workers is broad, less is known about the impact on employers. Yet reforms that create incentives to postpone retirement may have extensive effects on employer labor demand and labor costs, especially in settings where there are strict legal protections against age discrimination in employment. Although public pension system reforms generally are structured to treat all workers within the same birth cohort similarly, the impact on employers may vary substantially due to differences in the age composition of their employees. Using this variation as a source of identification, we examine whether the differential impact of pension reform leads to differences in the incidence of workforce downsizing, a sign of possible financial distress. To ensure estimates are not biased due to attrition, we also model associations between the impact of pension reform and establishment closures and find no association. Results for downsizing consistently show establishments with a higher share of older workers are more likely to experience downsizing. When we segment workers within establishments by age, the absolute changes in downsizing probabilities are highest for younger workers. Preliminary results indicate works councils may increase the risk of downsizing for older workers and protect employment for young and prime workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Geyer, Johannes, Svenja Lorenz, Thomas Zwick & Mona Bruns (2021): Early Retirement of Employees in Demanding Jobs: Evidence from a German Pension Reform. (DIW-Diskussionspapiere 1978), Berlin, 46 S.

Abstract

"Early retirement options are usually targeted at employees at risk of not reaching their regular retirement age in employment. An important at-risk group comprises employees who have worked in demanding jobs for many years. This group may be particularly negatively affected by the abolition of early retirement options. To measure differences in labor market reactions of employees in low- and high-demand jobs, we exploit the quasi-natural experiment of a cohort-specific pension reform that increased the early retirement age for women from 60 to 63 years. Based on a large administrative dataset, we use a regression-discontinuity approach to estimate the labor market reactions. Surprisingly, we find the same relative employment increase of about 25% for treated women who were exposed to low and to high job demand. For older women in demanding jobs, we do not find substitution effects into unemployment, partial retirement, disability pension, or inactivity. Eligibility for the pension for women required high labor market attachment; thus, we argue that this eligibility rule induced the positive selection of healthy workers into early retirement. We propose alternative policies that protect workers exposed to high job demand better against the negative consequences of being unable to reach their statutory retirement age in employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Giesecke, Matthias & Philipp Jäger (2021): Pension Incentives and Labor Supply: Evidence from the Introduction of Universal Old-Age Assistance in the UK. (IZA discussion paper 14469), Bonn, 67 S.

Abstract

"We study the labor supply implications of the Old-Age Pension Act (OPA) of 1908, which, for the first time, provided pensions to older people in the UK. Using recently released census data covering the entire population, we exploit variation at the newly created age-based eligibility threshold. Our results show a considerable and abrupt decline in labor force participation of 6.0 percentage points (13%) when older workers reach the eligibility age of 70. To mitigate the impact of population aging today, pension reforms aimed at increasing elderly labor supply, however, have to induce much larger behavioral responses than the OPA." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gornick, Janet & Eva Sierminska (2021): Wealth Accumulation and Retirement Preparedness in Cross-National Perspective: A Gendered Analysis of Outcomes among Single Adults. (IZA policy paper 181), Bonn, 30 S.

Abstract

"Wealth is an increasingly important dimension of economic well-being and is attracting rising attention in discussions of social inequality. In this paper, we compare – within and across countries – wealth outcomes, and link those to both employment-related factors and policy solutions that have the potential to improve wealth creation and retirement security for women. By constructing country-specific portraits of wealth outcomes and "retirement preparedness," we reveal extensive cross-national variation in multiple facets of wealth. Our regression analysis finds a statistically significant and positive effect of work experience on wealth, with that effect, in general, increasing over time. The effect of work experience for single women is greater than for single men, suggesting that, among men, other, stronger forces are at work in creating wealth. The retirement preparedness outcomes indicate that single women in all three countries are in a precarious position at retirement, with much lower expected annual wealth levels than single men. The second preparedness indicator, which links expected annual wealth to income, demonstrates that men have the potential to cover 1larger shares of their income at retirement – and thus are more able, than their female counterparts, to maintain standards of living achieved earlier in life. Our policy discussion indicates that employment remains a viable option for ultimately bolstering women's wealth accumulation. Many scholars, gender equality advocates, and policymakers have argued for raising women's employment rates – for a multitude of reasons – but few, if any, have made the case for strengthening women's employment in order to ultimately bolster women's wealth building. We hope to help reduce the gap in the literature on policy supports for women's employment and re-open the discussion on how women can create more wealth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Hinrichs, Karl (2021): Recent pension reforms in Europe: More challenges, new directions. An overview. In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 55, H. 3, S. 409-422. DOI:10.1111/spol.12712

Abstract

"During the last 30 years, all European Union member states have reformed their pension systems. In view of ongoing and intensifying population aging, efforts have aimed at containing the future rise of the contribution rate, improving the system dependency ratio, lowering the benefit ratio and/or infusing tax money or other financial resources into the system. Moreover, since about the early 2000s, we can observe a move towards a multi-pillar pension system in countries hitherto running a dominant-pillar system: private pre-funded occupational pensions and individual provision for old age are given larger roles within the public-private mix of retirement income. An analysis of reforms shows a finite menu of adjustment options, and concrete measures have to be adapted to nation-specific institutional contexts. Finally, we can conclude that pension reforms focusing on long-term financial sustainability may increase the risk of old-age poverty and, thus, violate a central objective of pension schemes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Klaus, Sebastian, Alexander Meschnig & Ernst von Kardorff (2021): Wege psychisch beeinträchtigter Menschen in die Erwerbsminderungsrente und Rückkehrperspektiven in Arbeit. In: Deutsche Rentenversicherung, Jg. 76, H. 1, S. 46-65.

Abstract

"Die Zunahme der Zugänge zu Erwerbsminderungsrenten (EMR) wegen einer psychischen Beeinträchtigung ist für Rentenversicherungsträger eine versorgungspolitische und fachliche Herausforderung. Bislang ist nur wenig über die biografischen Entwicklungsgeschichten bis hin zur Beantragung einer EMR wegen psychischer Beeinträchtigungen bekannt. Das gilt auch für den Einfluss des EMR-Bezugs auf die Gestaltung der neuen Lebenssituation und die Motivation zur Rückkehr auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt. Die Ergebnisse des von der Deutschen Rentenversicherung Bund von 2017 bis 2020 geförderten Forschungsprojekts "WEMRE" weisen darauf hin, dass, trotz der Heterogenität der biografischen Entwicklungsgeschichten, drei charakteristische Verlaufsformen in die EMR wegen psychischer Beeinträchtigungen vorzufinden sind. Weiter dokumentieren die Ergebnisse verschiedene Reaktionsmuster auf den EMR-Bezug, zu denen auch eine berufliche Neuorientierung zählt, welche mit einer gezielten Unterstützung aufgegriffen und darüber die Rückkehrquote auf den allgemeinen Arbeitsmarkt positiv beeinflusst werden kann." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Kruse, Herman & Andreas Myhre (2021): Early Retirement Provision for Elderly Displaced Workers. (MPRA paper / University Library of Munich 109431), München, 41 S.

Abstract

"This paper studies the economic effects on re-employment and program substitution behavior among elderly displaced workers who exogenously lose eligibility for their early retirement option. We use detailed Norwegian matched employer-employee data containing information on bankruptcy dates and individual-level wealth, income, pensions and social security benefits. Our empirical strategy employs a regression discontinuity design, as job displacement before a certain age cut-off results in losing eligibility for early retirement benefits between ages 62–67 years in Norway. We find that reemployment rates are indistinguishable between workers who just retain eligibility for early retirement benefits and those who just do not. Meanwhile, those who lose eligibility offset 69% of their lost benefits through take-up of other social security benefits, where 51% comes from disability insurance and 13% from unemployment insurance. Our findings are particularly policy relevant as tightening of age-limits for old-age pensions is on the agenda in several OECD countries, while current economic hardship throughout the region may lead to increased job displacement for elderly workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kuhn, Ursina, Markus M. Grabka & Christian Suter (2021): Early retirement as a privilege for the rich? A comparative analysis of Germany and Switzerland. In: Advances in life course research, Jg. 47. DOI:10.1016/j.alcr.2020.100392

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Pimpertz, Jochen (2021): Höhere Regelaltersgrenze: 68 reicht nicht. (IW-Kurzberichte / Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln 2021,34), Köln, 3 S.

Abstract

"Mit der fortschreitenden Bevölkerungsalterung muss der Beitragssatz zur gesetzlichen Rentenversicherung steigen - trotz sinkendem Rentenniveau und auch nach 2031, dem Anfangsjahr der „Rente mit 67“. Mit einer fortgesetzten Anhebung der Regelaltersgrenze bis auf 70 Jahre ab 2052 ließe sich der Beitragssatzanstieg aber bremsen und gleichzeitig das Sicherungsniveau stabilisieren." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Quinby, Laura D. & Gal Wettstein (2021): Do deferred benefit cuts for current employees increase separation? In: Labour Economics, Jg. 73. DOI:10.1016/j.labeco.2021.102081

Abstract

"This study examines whether deferred benefit cuts increase worker separation. The analysis utilizes a 2005 reform to the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI) that reduced benefits for ERSRI members who had not vested by 2005, and did not affect high-tenure ERSRI members and municipal government employees. A triple-differences research design yields an elasticity of employer-specific labor supply with respect to deferred benefits of 0.28. Although state employees were more sensitive to benefit cuts than teachers, low elasticities for both groups suggest that the labor market for public employees is not highly competitive." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2022 Elsevier) ((en))

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Qvist, Jeevitha Yogachandiran (2021): The working class and early retirement in Denmark: individual push factors. In: Ageing & Society, Jg. 41, H. 9, S. 2118-2142. DOI:10.1017/S0144686X20000203

Abstract

"Previous research finds that members of the working class have a higher risk of early retirement compared to professionals because they are pushed into early retirement. This indicates that not all workers can respond to incentives to extend their working life. Yet, little previous work has been conducted to quantify systematically the extent to which push factors explain why members of the working class have a higher risk of early retirement compared to professionals. Using longitudinal data on Danish workers, the results suggest that members of the working class have an increased risk of early retirement compared to professionals, but poor health, previous spells of unemployment and low job quality mediate a large part of this effect. Among men, the push factors mediate 57 and 86 per cent of the effect of social class on early retirement for skilled manual and unskilled manual workers, respectively. Among women, the push factors mediate 43 and 55 per cent of the effect of social class on early retirement for skilled manual and unskilled manual workers, respectively. Overly physical work demands is the most important mediator, which explains between 23 and 31 per cent of the total effect of belonging to the working class on early retirement. Moreover, the magnitudes of the indirect effects of the push factors depend on the particular pathway into retirement." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))