An empirical analysis of early retirement

Switzerland is experiencing a trend toward early retirement. In view of an aging population and a financially challenged social security system, understanding this phenomenon is crucial for policymakers in government and business alike. This study provides a comparative perspective on experience with early retirement in Switzerland. Using data from the 2002 Swiss Labor Force Survey, the analysis identifies (i) which people go into early retirement, and (ii) why they retire early. An international comparison of early retirement discusses (iii) the impact of -different institutional frameworks on the incidence of early retirement, and based on data from the 1997 International Social Survey Programme, it analyzes (iv) the frequency of involuntary early retirement in 19 countries.