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The Political Feasibility of Increasing Retirement Age: Lessons from a Ballot on Female Retirement Age

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Author Info
Bütler, Monika

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Abstract

In 1998, the Swiss voters approved of an increase in female retirement age from 62 to 64. The referendum, being on a single issue only, offers a unique opportunity to explore the political feasibility of pension reforms and to apply theoretical models of life-cycle decision making. Estimates carried out with municipality data suggest that the outcome of the vote conforms relatively well with predictions drawn from a theoretical simulation study. There are, however, surprising gender differences even in married couples. Young agents, married middle-aged and all elderly men favour an increase in female retirement age, while middle-aged and elderly women strongly oppose it. Richer communities and those with a high proportion of self-employed or a low fraction of blue-collar workers are more likely to opt for a higher retirement age. Ideological preferences and regional differences also play a considerable role.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 2780.

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Date of creation: Apr 2001
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:2780

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Related research
Keywords: (Female) Retirement Age Life-Cycle Decision Making Social Security Reforms

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Models of Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
D91 - Microeconomics - - Intertemporal Choice and Growth - - - Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving
H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

  1. Persson, Torsten & Tabellini, Guido, 1997. "Political Economics and Macroeconomic Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 1759, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  2. Breyer, Friedrich & Craig, Ben, 1997. "Voting on social security: Evidence from OECD countries," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 705-724, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Erik Canton & Casper van Ewijk & Paul J.G. Tang, 2003. "Population Ageing and International Capital Flows," Occasional Papers 04, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes. [Downloadable!]
  2. Erik Canton & Casper van Ewijk & Paul Tang, 2004. "Ageing and International Capital Flows," CPB Documents 43, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. [Downloadable!]
  3. Barbara Hanel & Regina T. Riphahn, 2006. "Financial Incentives and the Timing of Retirement: Evidence from Switzerland," IZA Discussion Papers 2492, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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