Investigates changes in retirement patterns in the 20th century through two lenses: as nonemployment and as leisure in the postwar economy. Discusses the shifting financial liability for retirement as the number of retirees rises in proportion to the number of workers, causing additional changes in retirement patterns and social security. (SK)

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.)…

The authors show that Canada's demographic situation in the future will differ substantially from what has been known in the past. Their analysis suggests that up to about 2010 population change will have less of an impact on the real level of aggregate government expenditures than on the size of the real gross national product. (Author/CT)