AccScience Publishing / IJPS / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/ijps.482
Cite this article
108
Download
1220
Views
Journal Browser
Volume | Year
Issue
Search
News and Announcements
View All
REVIEW

Active aging and alternatives to age-based retirement

Alfredo Alfageme1*
Show Less
1 Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain
IJPS 2023, 9(2), 84–90; https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.482
Submitted: 2 May 2023 | Accepted: 5 July 2023 | Published: 21 July 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Active Ageing and Educational Gerontology)
© 2023 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

For several decades, proposals have been made to redistribute social transfers (mainly pensions) and the time people spend on training and work (paid or otherwise) throughout the life course, in line with an analytical perspective that considers the life course as a whole, not just certain stages or transitions. One recent proposal, known as temporary leave (TL), would provide the opportunity to take temporary periods of voluntary paid exit from work over the life course, in exchange for a proportional delay in the age of retirement. This paper discusses the suitability of TL as a social policy for aging European societies.

Keywords
Caring
Life course
Lifelong learning
Retirement
Temporary leave
Work
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
References

Alfageme, A. (2009). El retiro temporal a lo largo del curso vital: Contexto, regulación y consecuencias [Temporary leave throughout the life course: Context, regulation and consequences]. Recerca, 9(1): 41-58.

 

Alfageme, A. (2014). Temporary exit from employment: Possibilities for lifelong learning in early retirement. In: Schmidt-Hertha, B., Krasovec, S.J., & Formosa, M. (eds). Learning Across Generations in Europe. Contemporary Issues in Older Adult Education. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6209-902-9_8

 

Alfageme, A., García-Pastor, B., & Seguí-Cosme, S. (2019). Workers’ willingness to delay retirement in exchange for temporary paid leaves: A case study in a Spanish town. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 39(7/8): 595-608. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-03-2019-0053

 

Alfageme, A., García-Pastor, B., & Viñado, C. (2012). Temporary exit from employment throughout the life course. An alternative to retirement to challenge ageism and sexism. Critical Social Policy, 32(4): 694-706. http://doi.org/10.1177/0261018312449810

 

Alfageme, A., García-Pastor, B., & Viñado, C. (2014). El retiro temporal del trabajo remunerado como alternativa a la jubilación. Algunas opiniones expertas [Temporary exit from employment as an alternative to retirement. Some expert opinions]. Papers: Revista de Sociologia, 99(2): 1-26. https://doi.org/10.5565/rev/papers.583

 

Blossfeld, H.P., Kilpi-Jakonen, E., Vono, D., & Buchholz, S. (2014). Adult Learning in Modern Societies: An International Comparison from a Life-Course Perspective. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publications.

 

Bobbitt-Zeher, D. (2011). Gender discrimination at work. Connecting gender stereotypes, institutional policies, and gender composition of workplace. Gender and Society, 25(6): 764-786. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243211424741

 

Boeren, E. (2017). Understanding adult lifelong learning participation as a layered problem. Studies in Continuing Education, 39(2): 161-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/0158037X.2017.1310096

 

Böckerman, P., & Ilmakunnas, P. (2020). Do good working conditions make you work longer? Analyzing retirement decisions using linked survey and register data. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 17: 100192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2019.02.001

 

Boudiny, K. (2013). “Active ageing”: From empty rhetoric to effective policy tool. Ageing and Society, 33(6): 1077-1098. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1200030X

 

Brooke, L., & Taylor, P. (2005). Older workers and employment: Managing age relations. Ageing and Society, 25(3): 415-429. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X05003466

 

Bukodi, E. (2017). Cumulative inequalities over the life course: Life-long learning and social mobility in Britain. Journal of Social Policy, 46(2): 367-404. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0047279416000635

 

Carrasco, C., Borderías, C., & Torns, T. (2011). El Trabajo de Cuidados. Historia, Teoría Y Políticas [Care Work. History, Theory and Politics]. Madrid: Catarata.

 

Cebola, M.M.J., Santos, N.R., & Dionísio, A. (2021). Worker-related ageism: A systematic review of empirical research. Ageing and Society, 43(8): 1882-1914. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X21001380

 

Coursolle, K.M., Sweeney, M.M., Raymo, J.M., & Ho, J.H. (2010). The association between retirement and emotional well-being: Does prior work-family conflict matter? Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 65(5): 609-620. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp116

 

Crosnoe, R., & Benner, A.D. (2016). Educational pathways. In: Shanahan, M.J., Mortimer, J.T., & Johnson, M.K. (eds.). Handbook of the Life Course. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, p.179-200.

 

Dannefer, D. (2018). Systemic and reflexive: Foundations of cumulative dis/advantage and life-course processes. Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 75(6): 1249-1263. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby118

 

Eurofound. (2012). Working Time and Work-Life Balance in a Life Course Perspective. Dublin: Eurofound. Available from: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_ publication/field_ef_document/ef1273en.pdf [Last accessed on 2022 Sep 01].

 

Eurofound. (2016). Sustainable Work throughout the Life Course: National policies and Strategies. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Available from: https://www. eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/ field_ef_document/ef1610en_4.pdf [Last accessed on 2022 Sep 01].

 

García-Pastor, B., & Viñado, C. (2013). Análisis crítico del curso vital institucionalizado: Conciliación y retiro temporal del trabajo remunerado [Critical analysis of the institutionalized life course: Work-life balance and temporary exit from paid work]. Research on Ageing and Social Policy, 1(1): 78-97. https://doi.org/10.4471/rasp.2013.04

 

Ginn, J., & Arber, S. (1996). Gender, age and attitudes to retirement in mid-life. Ageing and Society, 16(1): 27-55. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X00003123

 

Guillemard, A.M. (1992). Análisis De Las Políticas De Vejez En Europa. Madrid: Ministerio de Asuntos Sociales.

 

Guillemard, A.M.G. (2009). Un curso vital más flexible. Nuevos riesgos y desafíos para la protección social [A more flexible life course. New risks and challenges for social protection]. Recerca, Revista de Pensament i Anàlisi, 9(1): 13-39.

 

Henretta, J.C. (2003). The life-course perspective on work and retirement. In: Settersen, R.A. (ed.). Invitation to the Life Course. Toward New Understandings of Later Life. New York: Baywood Publishing Company, p.85-106.

 

Hofäcker, D. (2015). In line or at odds with active ageing policies? Exploring patterns of retirement preferences in Europe. Ageing and Society, 35(7): 1529-1556. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X1400035X

 

Kilpi-Jakonen, E., Vono, D., & Blossfeld, H.P. (2015). Adult learning and social inequalities: Processes of equalisation or cumulative disadvantage? International Review of Education, 61: 529-546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015-9498-5

 

Kim, J.E., & Moen, P. (2002). Retirement transitions, gender, and psychological well-being: A life-course, ecological model. Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57(3): P212-P222. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/57.3.P212

 

Lee, J., & Desjardins, R. (2019). Inequality in adult learning and education participation: The effects of social origins and social inequality. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 38(3): 339-359. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2019.1618402

 

Loretto, W., & White, P. (2006). Employers’ attitudes, practices and policies towards older workers. Human Resource Management Journal, 16(3): 313-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2006.00013.x

 

Loretto, W., & Vickerstaff, S. (2015). Gender, age and flexible working in later life. Work, Employment and Society, 29(2): 233-249. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017014545267

 

Marshall, V.W. (2001). Preface. Restructuring work and the life course: Challenges for comparative research and policy. In: Marshall, V.W., Heinz, W.R., Krüger, H. and Verma, A. (eds.). Restructuring Work and the Life Course. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

 

McDaniel, S., & Bernard, P. (2012). Life course as a policy lens: Challenges and opportunities. Canadian Public Policy, 37: S1-S13. https://doi.org/10.3138/cpp.37.suppl.s1

 

Miret, P., & Vono, D. (2015). Impacte de la Formaciód’adults en Les Trajectòrieslaborals. Barcelona: Fundació Jaume Bofill.

 

Moen, P. (2006). Midcourse. Navigating retirement and a new life stage. In: Mortimer, T.J., & Shanahan, M.J. (eds.). Handbook of the Life Course. New York: Springer, p.269-291.

 

Moen, P. (2016). Work over the gendered life course. In: Shanahan, M.J., Mortimer, J.T., & Johnson, M.K. (eds.). Handbook of the Life Course. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, p.249-275.

 

Mortimer, J.T., & Moen, P. (2016). The changing social construction of age and the life course: Precarious identity and enactment of “early” and “encore” stages of adulthood. In: Shanahan, M.J., & Johnson, M.K. (eds.). Handbook of the Life Course. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, p.111-129.

 

Naegele, G., Barkholdt, C., De Vroom, B., Andersen. J.G., & Krämer, K. (2003). A New Organisation of Time Over Working Life. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

 

Nordenmark, M., & Stattin, M. (2009). Psychosocial wellbeing and reasons for retirement in Sweden. Ageing and Society, 29(3): 413-430. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X08008179

 

Oksanen, T., & Virtanen, M. (2012). Health and retirement: A complex relationship. European Journal of Ageing, 9(3): 221-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-012-0243-7

 

Radl, J. (2013). Labour market exit and social stratification in Western Europe: The effects of social class and gender on the timing of retirement. European Sociological Review, 29(3): 654-668. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcs045

 

Radó, M., & Boissonneault, M. (2020). Short and long-term change in subjective well-being among voluntary and involuntary retirees. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 17, 100178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2018.11.003

 

Riley, M.W. (1979). Introduction: Life-course perspectives. In: Aging from Birth to Death: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

 

Rubenson, K. (2018). Conceptualizing participation in adult learning and education: Equity issues. In: Milana, M., Webb, S., Holford, J., Waller, R., & Jarvis, P. (eds.). The Palgrave International Handbook on Adult and Lifelong Education and Learning. London: Palgrave Macmillan, p.337-357.

 

Sacco, L.B., Cahill, K.E., Westerlund, H., & Platts, L.G. (2021). Changes in job quality as people work beyond pensionable age in Sweden. Work, Aging and Retirement, 8(3): 282-295. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waab021

 

Seguí-Cosme, S., & Alfageme, A. (2008). El retiro temporal a lo largo de la vida: Bases sociológicas y filosóficas [Temporary leave throughout life: Sociological and philosophical bases]. MediterráneoEconómico, 14(1): 385-405.

 

Settersten, R.A. (2006). Age structuring and the rhythm of the life course. In: Mortimer, J.T., & Shanahan, M.J. (eds.). Handbook of the Life Course. New York: Springer, p.81-98.

 

Silver, M.P., Dass, A.R., & Laporte, A. (2020). The effect of post-retirement employment on health. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 17, 100180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2018.11.005

 

Vaupel, J.W., & Loichinger, E. (2006). Redistributing work in aging Europe. Science, 312(5782): 1911-1913. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1127487

 

Virtanen, M., Myllyntausta, S., Kauppi, M., Kivimäki, M., Pentti, J., Ervasti, J., et al. (2022). Trajectories of worktime control from midlife to retirement and working beyond retirement age. Work, Aging and Retirement, 8: 273-281. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waab023

 

Visser, M., Lössbroek, J., & Van der Lippe, T. (2020). The use of HR policies and job satisfaction of older workers. Work, Aging and Retirement, 7(4): 303-321. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waaa023

 

Wahrendorf, M. (2014). Previous employment histories and quality of life in older ages: Sequence analyses using SHARELIFE. Ageing and Society, 35(9): 1928-1959. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X14000713

 

Walker, A. (2002). A strategy for active ageing. International Social Security Review, 55(1): 121-139. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-246X.00118

 

Walker, A., & Maltby, T. (2012). Active ageing: A strategic policy solution to demographic ageing in the European Union. International Journal of Social Welfare, 21(1): S117-S130. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2012.00871.x

Share
Back to top
International Journal of Population Studies, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8606 Print ISSN: 2424-8150, Published by AccScience Publishing