Staying Ahead of the Curve 2003: The AARP Working in Retirement Study
[September 2003 - AARP Research] Although the age of 65 has customarily been associated with retirement, previous research has suggested that many workers who are approaching the customary retirement age plan to continue working well beyond the age of 65. AARP recently conducted a nationwide telephone survey of 2,001 workers between the ages of 50 and 70 years old to explore their vision of retirement and to better understand the types of jobs that workers who plan to work in retirement imagine holding and the types of jobs currently held by today's working retirees. Findings reveal that most preretirees still cling to traditional images of retirement, such as spending more time with loved ones and receiving pension and Social Security benefits; however, the majority also report that their personal definition of retirement includes some form of work. Those who expect to work in retirement are considering a variety of occupations, including positions related to teaching, office support, crafts, retail sales, and health care. ...

Reforming the U.S. Retirement Income System: The Growing Role of Work (PDF)
[September 2003 - BOSTON COLLEGE CENTER FOR RETIREMENT RESEARCH GLOBAL BRIEF] Looking ahead, policymakers must address the continuing solvency problems in Social Security and employer defined benefit pension plans. In addition, the level of income provided by the retirement income system will clearly emerge as a serious concern. Future Social Security benefits will replace a smaller share of pre-retirement income. Employer defined benefit plans are becoming rare. And the limitations and risks in the employer defined contribution system all but guarantee that many retirees will not have the income they need to maintain living standards. As the income provided by the retirement income system recedes, continued work must become a far more important source of support for older Americans. The reforms in both public and private programs facilitate continued full-time or part-time employment by reducing severance incentives and by allowing workers to shift their �retirement wealth� to older ages. The key to retirement income security will thus be the response of workers � and employers � to this new reality.

Old Europe? Demographic change and pension reform (PDF)
[September 2003 - CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN REFORM] David Willetts, in this highly original and thoroughly researched pamphlet, addresses a number of common fallacies in the ageing debate. Many people believe that it is only the tax-financed pension systems of continental Europe that are heading for trouble, and that the UK need not worry. Willetts warns against complacency, however. Italy may have an unsustainable state pension system, but Britain has bankrupt company pension schemes. British people save less than the French and the Germans. And UK figures for age-related public spending are artificially low because UK pensioners get much of their income from social benefits. The sustainability of pension systems is not the only challenge for ageing societies. �Old Europe� will be less dynamic and less productive. The US, meanwhile, has a young and growing population. The economic gap between the two continents will continue to widen. The answers to these problems go well beyond fixing pension systems.