Supports seniority as a just principle for governing personnel decisions, under fair hiring and valid competence assessment. Argues that seniority reduces likelihood that senior citizens will be second-class citizens in workplace, that seniority rights protect older workers against age discrimination, and that seniority rights protect and increase…

Raising the age of mandatory retirement will retard the rate of promotional prospects only slightly in the economy. Larger delays will occur for top positions. Individual firms may experience greater delays depending on their rate of growth, previous retirement age, and willingness of older workers to remain on the job. (Author)