Since the 1970s early exit from work has become a major challenge in modern welfare states. Governments, employers, and unions alike once thought of early retirement as a peaceful solution to the ...economic problems of mass unemployment and industrial restructuring. Today governments and international organizations advocate the postponement of retirement and an increase in activity among older workers. Comparing the USA, eight European countries, and Japan, this book demonstrates significant cross-national differences in early retirement across countries and over time. The study evaluates the impact of major variations in welfare regimes, production systems, and labor relations. It stresses the importance of the 'pull factor' of extensive welfare state provisions, particularly in Continental Europe; the 'push factor' of labor shedding strategies by firms, particularly in Anglo-American market economies; and the role of employers and worker representatives in negotiating retirement policies, particularly in coordinated market economies. Over the last three decades, early retirement has become a popular social policy and employment practice in the workplace, adding to the fiscal crises and employment problems of today's welfare states. Attempts to reverse early retirement policies have led to major reform debates. Unilateral government policies to cut back on social benefits have not had the expected employment results due to resistance from employers, workers, and their organizations. Successful reforms require the cooperation of both sides. This study provides comprehensive empirical analysis and a balanced approach to studying both the pull and the push factors affecting early exit from work needed to understand the development of early retirement regimes. Available in OSO: http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/oso/public/content/politicalscience//toc.html
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common inherited neuropathy. Many CMT patients become gradually less able to perform physically demanding tasks as their disease progresses. In ...collaboration with the charity Charcot Marie Tooth UK (CMTUK) we designed an online survey to determine the effect of CMT on a person’s ability to find and perform work, and to maintain their job. Retired participants answered questions regarding their age of retirement and their decision to retire. Over a 12 month period, 301 responses were received. Participants came from across the UK and from a wide variety of occupations. 77% of participants felt that CMT affected their ability to work, 60% of participants felt that CMT had restricted them from finding work and 25% of respondents were forced to change career because of CMT. 45% of participants were retired and only 6% retired after the age of 65. 57% of participants retired early because of CMT. Our findings show that CMT affects patients’ career choices, their ability to work and is a common reason for early retirement. This raises important questions about how society needs to evolve processes to help people with CMT and similar diseases work and stay at work.
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