Disability, welfare and labour force participation of older workers in Europe

Citation

Bell D & McVicar D (2010) Disability, welfare and labour force participation of older workers in Europe. Twenty-First Century Society, 5 (3), pp. 261-277. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-78149254354&md5=babe30dc90f604bfea24242d0e080873; https://doi.org/10.1080/17450144.2010.480830

Abstract
This paper uses aggregate Labour Force Survey (LFS) data across 33 European countries to examine recent trends in overall inactivity rates and in health-related inactivity rates for males and females aged 50-64 years. In most countries, the trend increase in male inactivity rates has reversed and labour force participation rates of older men have now generally been growing since the early to mid-1990s. For women, there has been a continuation of the existing upward trend in participation rates. The upward trend in male rates of health-related inactivity has also reversed in around one-third of countries-generally those with the previously highest levels-but has continued to rise in others. Most countries have also seen rising female rates of health-related inactivity. The paper therefore presents some simple time-series, cross-section regression analysis that suggests institutional factors, most notably the standard public pension replacement rate, have played a role in driving these trends.

Journal
Twenty-First Century Society: Volume 5, Issue 3