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Demanding Occupations and the Retirement Age

Author

Listed:
  • Vermeer, Niels

    (Dutch Ministry of Finance)

  • Mastrogiacomo, Mauro

    (De Nederlandsche Bank)

  • van Soest, Arthur

    (Tilburg University)

Abstract

In several countries where pensions are reformed and the retirement age is increased, the issue came up to make an exception for workers with demanding occupations, since health considerations may make it unreasonable to expect them to work longer. We analyze unique Dutch survey data on the public's opinions on what are demanding occupations, on whether it is justified that someone with a demanding occupation can retire earlier, and on the willingness to contribute to an earlier retirement scheme for such occupations through higher taxes. A representative sample of Dutch adults answered several questions about hypothetical persons with five different jobs. We use panel data models, accounting for confounding factors affecting the evaluations of the demanding nature of the jobs as well as their reasonable retirement age or willingness to contribute to an early retirement scheme. We find that the Dutch think that workers in demanding occupations should be able to retire earlier. A one standard deviation increase in the perceived demanding nature of an occupation translates into a twelve months decrease in the reasonable retirement age and a 30 to 40 percentage points increase in the willingness to contribute to an early retirement scheme for that occupation. There is some evidence that respondents whose own job is similar to the occupation they evaluate find this occupation more demanding than other respondents, but respondents are also willing to contribute to early retirement of demanding occupations not similar to their own.

Suggested Citation

  • Vermeer, Niels & Mastrogiacomo, Mauro & van Soest, Arthur, 2015. "Demanding Occupations and the Retirement Age," IZA Discussion Papers 9462, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9462
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zwick, Thomas & Bruns, Mona & Geyer, Johannes & Lorenz, Svenja, 2022. "Early retirement of employees in demanding jobs: Evidence from a German pension reform," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    3. Baurin, Arno, 2021. "The limited power of socioeconomic status to predict lifespan: Implications for pension policy," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    4. Niklas Gohl, 2023. "Working Longer, Working Stronger? The Forward-Looking Effects of Increasing the Retirement Age on (Un)employment Behaviour," CEPA Discussion Papers 63, Center for Economic Policy Analysis.
    5. Vincent Vandenberghe, 2023. "Career arduousness and instability: Both matter for health beyond 50," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 37(3), pages 343-384, September.
    6. Vandenberghe Vincent, 2021. "Differentiating retirement age to compensate for health differences," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-34, May.
    7. Kantarcı, Tunga & Been, Jim & van Soest, Arthur & van Vuuren, Daniël, 2025. "Partial retirement opportunities and the labor supply of older individuals," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    8. Niklas Gohl, 2023. "Working Longer, Working Stronger? The Forward-Looking Effects of Increasing the Retirement Age on (Un)employment Behaviour," Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers 0013, Berlin School of Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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