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Can Policy Facilitate Partial Retirement? Evidence from Germany

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  • Peter Berg
  • Mary K. Hamman
  • Matthew Piszczek
  • Christopher J. Ruhm

Abstract

In 1996, Germany introduced the Altersteilzeit (ATZ) law, which encouraged longer working lives through partial retirement incentives. Using matched pension system and establishment survey data, we estimate changes in part-time employment and retirement after ATZ. We find the policy induced growth in part-time work for men and extended men's expected duration of employment by 1.8 years. As the policy evolved to include an abrupt retirement option, the worklife gain for men fell to 1.2 years. Among women, part-time employment grew less and employment duration changed little initially but later declined by 0.2 years when abrupt retirement became available.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Berg & Mary K. Hamman & Matthew Piszczek & Christopher J. Ruhm, 2015. "Can Policy Facilitate Partial Retirement? Evidence from Germany," NBER Working Papers 21478, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:21478
    Note: AG LS PE
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    Cited by:

    1. Haan, Peter & Tolan, Songül, 2019. "Labor supply and fiscal effects of partial retirement – The role of entry age and the timing of pension benefits," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    2. Andrea Albanese & Bart Cockx & Yannick Thuy, 2020. "Working time reductions at the end of the career: Do they prolong the time spent in employment?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 99-141, July.
    3. Endler, Johannes & Geyer, Johannes, 2017. "The Interaction of Pension System and Unemployment Insurance - Evidence from two Reforms," VfS Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168279, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    4. Songül Tolan, 2017. "The Effect of Partial Retirement on Labor Supply, Public Balances and the Income Distribution: Evidence from a Structural Analysis," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1679, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    5. Songül Tolan, 2015. "Die Flexibilisierung des Rentenübergangs in Deutschland," DIW Roundup: Politik im Fokus 82, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J26 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Retirement; Retirement Policies

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