Educational differences in macro-level determinants of early exit from paid work: a multilevel analysis of 14 European countries

Sascha De Breij,Dorly J H Deeg,Martijn Huisman

doi:10.1007/s10433-019-00538-6

Sascha De Breij, Dorly J H Deeg + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00538-6

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify macro-level determinants of early work exit and investigate whether the effects of these determinants differ across educational groups. We used data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (2011–2013) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) (2010/2011–2012/2013) as well as macro-level data and included 10,584 participants in 14 European countries. We used logistic multilevel analyses to examine educational differences in macro-level determinants of early work exit. Macro-level determinants were: minimum unemployment replacement rates, expenditure on active labour market policies (aimed to help the unemployed find work) and passive labour market policies (unemployment and early retirement benefits), employment protection legislation (costs involved in dismissing individuals), unemployment rates, statutory pension age and implicit tax on continued work. We found low-educated workers to be more at risk of early work exit than higher educated workers. In low-educated men, higher unemployment replacement rates, higher expenditure on passive labour market policies, stricter employment protection legislation and a higher implicit tax on continued work were associated with a higher risk of early work exit, whereas no macro-level factors were associated with early work exit in highly educated men. In women, a higher expenditure on passive labour market policies and a higher implicit tax on continued work were determinants of early work exit, regardless of educational level. To conclude, low-educated men seem to be especially responsive to the effects of pull factors that make early retirement financially more attractive.

Highlights

IntroductionThe population is ageing due to increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility (Christensen et al 2009)
In many industrialized countries, the population is ageing due to increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility (Christensen et al 2009)
The descriptive statistics show that high percentages of early work exit are not more apparent in countries with a higher baseline age or a lower statutory pension age

Summary

Introduction

The population is ageing due to increasing life expectancy and decreasing fertility (Christensen et al 2009). To reduce the economic burden that the ageing of society places on a welfare state, many countries are encouraging older workers to remain longer in the labour market by increasing the statutory retirement. Studies show that there is variation in retirement timing across European countries Ebbinghaus and Hofäcker 2013), suggesting that macro-level factors may play a role in retirement timing. To understand cross-country differences in retirement timing, a better understanding of the pension and labour market policies that affect early exit from the labour market is needed. Decisions on early work exit are influenced by micro-level factors, with health being the most important determinant (Van Rijn et al 2014), meso-level (workplace) factors (Scharn et al 2018) and macro-level factors (Scharn et al. Vol.:(0123456789)

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