Purpose: This article investigates how older Americans leave their career jobs and estimates the extent of intermediate labor force activity (bridge jobs) between full-time work on a career job and complete labor-force withdrawal. Design and Methods: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we explored the work histories and retirement…

The average retirement age for men shifted from 70 in 1950 to 65 in 1970 to 62 in 1985. Whether the trend toward early retirement has ended depends on interpretation of changes in the last 2 decades, including elimination of mandatory retirement, modifications in social security and pension plans, and increased longevity. (Contains 18 references.)…

An analysis of the impact of increasing the minimum mandatory retirement age on the retirement patterns of older adults across the entire economy suggests that because of the strong disincentives to work embedded in social security and many employee pensions, most workers will continue to retire in their early sixties. (MSE)

Recent trends toward earlier retirement have exacerbated the financial problems facing the Social Security system and many other public and private pension plans. The massive commitment of public and private funds to Social Security and pension funds is partly responsible for the trend to early retirement. This, in fact, was one of the early goals…

Two issues currently before Congress may have significant effects on the labor market experiences of retirement age individuals. These issues are the abolition of the mandatory retirement age and the elimination of the Social Security program's earning test. Both of these changes, if they occur, can be expected to affect the retirement decisions…

The Social Security Administration's Retirement History Study was used to study the microeconomic determinants of early retirement among white married men aged 58-63. Factors analysis of personal and financial characteristics, local labor market conditions, and certain job attributes revealed that Health status and eligibility for pensions are the…

Examined partial retirement among older self-employed and wage and salary workers. Found much more partial retirement among the self-employed. Retirement status was correlated with health, age, Social Security and pension eligibility, and wealth. Suggests workers might choose part-time employment if opportunities were available. (Author/JAC)

The recent decline in the labor force participation rates of older Americans is well known and well documented. Dramatic changes in male participation rates occurred between 1968 and 1986. Declines were substantial as early as age 55 and as late as age 70. The trends for older women were much less dramatic. In 1988, nearly half of employed men and…