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Discussing Retirement: Insights from a Qualitative Research Project

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  • Therese Jefferson

    (Curtin University)

Abstract

This paper describes a qualitative research project of thirty interviews with women in Western Australia and summarises the outcomes generated from subsequent data analysis. Three key areas of interest are discussed that add to the existing body of economic research on women’s savings. Firstly, the project’s conclusions emphasise women’s own definitions of savings, their perceptions about their skill in making financial decisions and their ideas about risk and seeking financial advice. Secondly, the project contributes to a greater appreciation of the links between women’s decision-making contexts, processes and outcomes and the ways these affect their future access to economic resources. Thirdly, the research method played an important role in identifying potentially relevant literatures that had not yet been applied to studies of women’s savings. It is concluded that relatively small programs of qualitative research can generate valuable insights into economic research agendas.

Suggested Citation

  • Therese Jefferson, 2007. "Discussing Retirement: Insights from a Qualitative Research Project," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 10(2), pages 129-145.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:journl:v:10:y:2007:i:2:p:129-145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Silvia Jordan & Corinna Treisch, 2010. "The perception of tax concessions in retirement savings decisions," Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 2(3), pages 157-184, October.
    2. Martha A. Starr, 2014. "Qualitative And Mixed-Methods Research In Economics: Surprising Growth, Promising Future," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 238-264, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty; Intertemporal Consumer Choice; Life Cycle Models and Saving;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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