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

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• 作者：Monika B¨¹tler
• 关键词：social security reforms ; (female) retirement age ; life ; cycle decision making
• 刊名：International Tax and Public Finance
• 出版年：2002
• 出版时间：2002
• 年：2002
• 卷：9
• 期：4
• 页码：349-365
• 全文大小：143 KB

文摘

In 1998, the Swiss voters approved of an increase in the female retirement age within the public pension system 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 well with predictions drawn from a theoretical model. Young agents, elderly and—to a lesser extent—middle-aged men favor an increase in female retirement age, while middle-aged 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.