Investing on ageing Extending working lives across Europe

Abstract

Population ageing is a global phenomenon. The implications of this shift in the age structure are countless, and the financial sustainability of social protection systems and shrinking workforce are of major concern for governments. As the process is particularly advanced in EU countries, in recent years, measures aiming at extending working life have been proposed. This thesis investigates postretirement work across Europe. The aim is to identify individual determinants influencing the decision-making process leading to post-retirement work. Moreover, differences in post-retirement employment between EU countries are investigated. The role of institutional arrangements is examined. This study confirms results of previous researches, and additionally finds relevant association between the likelihood of working after retirement and low pension income. The research also found that economic disincentives on combining pension and work-related income, negatively impact on the likelihood of working after retirement. The policy implications are discussed