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To increase the number of German employees undergoing rehabilitation rather than retiring early because of medical disabilities, a screening process was developed whereby the pension insurance institutions responsible for administering medical rehabilitation measures would identify persons in need of rehabilitation and urge them to take part. An experimental trial involving 600 people indicated the screening's effectiveness. (Author/JDD)

Adult education may keep older workers productive if they voluntarily engage in learning. Examining a generous partial retirement reform in Germany that encouraged early retirement among male workers, we estimate voluntary adult education activities for early retirees. Using county-level administrative data on all public adult education centers (Volkshochschulen; VHS), we employ a difference-in-differences approach exploiting the predetermined county-specific age structure of men for identification. The results show a strong increase in participation in adult education, specifically in cognitively demanding courses. This supports an intrinsic willingness of older workers to acquire skills and abilities independent of financial incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combustion of coal, the world's most polluting form of energy, must be significantly curtailed to limit the global average temperature increase to well below 2°C. Since carbon pricing is politically constrained, alternative policies, such as compensating coal plant owners, for early closure are being considered. Methods: Germany is the only country to date to have implemented a reverse auction to give compensation payments for early coal retirement. We analyse the merits and demerits of Germany's policy, drawing comparisons with other countries that have phased out coal through other means. Results: While bilateral negotiations can lead to excessive compensation due to asymmetric information, a competitive auction can discover the true cost of closure and help allocate funds more efficiently and transparently. Germany's experience illustrates the practical necessity of adjusting auction design to ensure additionality, reduce the risk of gaming and manage the security of supply. Conclusion: While auctions have attractive properties in theory, in practice, their design must address these concerns to unlock the full benefits. Retirement auctions that deliver compensation payments can be a pragmatic policy option, particularly in countries where an incumbent coal lobby makes punitive measures such as carbon taxation hard to implement. However, where there is a concentration in coal plant ownership, auctions will not work and alternative policies, such as enhanced incentives for scrappage and repurposing of coal assets, could be used instead. In many coal-burning areas, the decline of coal is slowed down by long-term contracts that insulate coal-fired generation from competition. Compensation for early closure is a 'pay-to-break' mechanism which may be a politically feasible alternative to 'polluter-pays' policies such as carbon pricing. Competitive auctions can deliver efficient and transparent compensation payments for early coal closures relative to negotiations which suffer from asymmetric information. Ensuring that there is sufficient competition in a coal closure auction through design adjustments can ensure discovery of true closure costs. Shutting down coal-fired power plants can lead to fiscal savings in countries where coal-fired generation is supported by capacity payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the association between work ability andwork nonparticipation, including long-termsickness absence (LTSA), unemployment (UE), and disability pension/early retirement (ER). Methods:We conducted a questionnaire-based 5-year follow-up study on a representative sample of the German working population (n = 2426). We used a two-partmodel to examine the association of continuousWork Ability Index (WAI) scores with the probability of events of work nonparticipation and the duration thereof. Results: Higher WAI scores were protective against total work nonparticipation (an index combining the three indicators), LTSA, ER and UE, the latter among males only. HigherWAI scores were protective also against duration of totalwork nonparticipation and LTSA, but not against duration of UE and ER among males and duration of UE among females. Conclusions: Higher WAI scores have a protective role against work nonparticipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined the association of depressive symptoms with subsequent events – and duration thereof – of work nonparticipation (long-term sickness absence, unemployment and early retirement). Methods: We employed a 5-year cohort from the Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA), based on a random sample of employees subject to social contributions aged 31–60 years in 2012 (N = 2413). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline through questionnaires, while work nonparticipation was recorded in follow-up interviews. Associations of depressive symptoms with subsequent events of work nonparticipation were examined in two-part models, with events analysed by logistic regressions and their duration by generalized linear models. Results: Medium to severe depressive symptoms were associated with events of work nonparticipation (males Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.90–5.45; females OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.29–2.87), especially with events of long-term sickness absence in both genders and events of unemployment in males. Mild depressive symptoms were also associated with events of work nonparticipation (males OR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.19–2.11; females OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.10–1.84). Among those experiencing one or more events, the duration of total work nonparticipation was twice as high among males [Exp(β) = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.53–2.78] and about one third higher [Exp(β) = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.05–1.83] among females with medium to severe depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The present study focuses on both events and duration of work nonparticipation, which are both critical for examining societal consequences of depressive symptoms. It is key to regard also mild depressive symptoms as a possible risk factor and to include different types of work nonparticipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use unique health record data that cover outpatient care and the associated costs to quantify the health care costs of a sizable increase in the retirement age in Germany. For the identification, we exploit a sizable cohort-specific pension reform which abolished an early retirement program for all women born after 1951. Our results show that health care costs significantly increase by about 2.9% in the age group directly affected by the increase in the retirement age (women aged 60–62). We further show that the cost increase is mainly driven by the following specialist groups: Ophthalmologists, general practitioners (GPs), neurology, orthopedics, and radiology. While the effects are significant and meaningful on the individual level, we show that the increase in health care costs is modest relative to the positive fiscal effects of the pension reform. Specifically, we estimate an aggregate increase in the health costs of about 7.7 million euro for women born in 1952 aged 60–62 which amounts to less than 2% of the overall positive fiscal effects of the pension reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Work ability as a predictor of early retirement or lengthy/frequent sick leaves becomes more and more relevant due to the demographic change. Therefore, factors, which affect employees' work ability, need to be further examined with a theoretical base. According to Karasek's job demands–control (JDC) model, high job demands and low control are related to poor employee health. The subsequent job demands–control support (JDCS) model proposed that a lack of support, also from leaders, has a negative impact on health indicators. This article looked at whether destructive leadership reinforces the negative influence of high job demands on employees' work ability. Methods: We used the BAuA Working Time Survey waves 2015, 2017, and 2019 (BAuA-WTS), which are representative of employees in Germany. Our data set covers 2448 respondents, who took part in all three waves. Central to the analyses were the variables job demands, control, destructive leadership, and work ability. Results: Results from pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed effect (FE) models revealed that job demands influenced work ability negatively, whereas neither control by the employee nor the interaction of job demands and control was significant regarding effecting work ability in the FE models. Destructive leadership exerted a negative effect on work ability and moderated job demands significantly in the FE models meaning a further decrease in work ability. Conclusion: Leadership behavior should be further examined as an important factor for work ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study causal effects of two early retirement reforms. Reform 1 increased normal retirement age stepwise from 60 to 63. Simultaneously, it became possible to use early retirement with benefit discounts. Reform 2 increased the age of early retirement stepwise from 60 to 63. We investigate behavioral responses to the reforms using administrative data and difference-in-differences strategies. We find strong and significant causal effects of both reforms. Individuals postponed retirement, stayed employed longer, postponed unemployment, and shifted to alternative pathways into retirement. The overall use of the retirement system declined by about 1.5 and 2 months per person after each of the two reforms. Individuals with low pension wealth and those who were affected immediately by the reform responded more strongly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, task data from the German Qualification and Career Survey (BIBB/IAB) is matched against the Sample of Integrated Labour Market Biographies (SIAB) to investigate what patterns are discernible in retirement between 1985 and 2005 in Western Germany. Set against a background of pension reforms and substantial structural change, the article asks whether the nature of occupational tasks has any significant effect on the timing of retirement. Through the use of event history analysis, the article reveals that having a large percentage of routine manual tasks in one's job is associated with a greater likelihood of a job holder leaving employment, while having medium to high percentages of non-routine manual tasks in one's job will tend to decrease that likelihood. There is also evidence that holding a job that includes a medium to high concentration of analytical and interactive tasks will tend to reduce the likelihood of early retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was undertaken to calculate epilepsy‐related direct, indirect, and total costs in adult patients with active epilepsy (ongoing unprovoked seizures) in Germany and to analyze cost components and dynamics compared to previous studies from 2003, 2008, and 2013. This analysis was part of the Epi2020 study. Methods: Direct and indirect costs related to epilepsy were calculated with a multicenter survey using an established and validated questionnaire with a bottom‐up design and human capital approach over a 3‐month period in late 2020. Epilepsy‐specific costs in the German health care sector from 2003, 2008, and 2013 were corrected for inflation to allow for a valid comparison. Results: Data on the disease‐specific costs for 253 patients in 2020 were analyzed. The mean total costs were calculated at €5551 (±€5805, median = €2611, range = €274–€21 667) per 3 months, comprising mean direct costs of €1861 (±€1905, median = €1276, range = €327–€13 158) and mean indirect costs of €3690 (±€5298, median = €0, range = €0–€11 925). The main direct cost components were hospitalization (42.4%), antiseizure medication (42.2%), and outpatient care (6.2%). Productivity losses due to early retirement (53.6%), part‐time work or unemployment (30.8%), and seizure‐related off‐days (15.6%) were the main reasons for indirect costs. However, compared to 2013, there was no significant increase of direct costs (−10.0%), and indirect costs significantly increased (p <.028, +35.1%), resulting in a significant increase in total epilepsy‐related costs (p <.047, +20.2%). Compared to the 2013 study population, a significant increase of cost of illness could be observed (p =.047). Significance: The present study shows that disease‐related costs in adult patients with active epilepsy increased from 2013 to 2020. As direct costs have remained constant, this increase is attributable to an increase in indirect costs. These findings highlight the impact of productivity loss caused by early retirement, unemployment, working time reduction, and seizure‐related days off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows that labor demand plays an important role in the labor market reactions to a pension reform in Germany. Employers with a high share of older worker inflow compared with their younger worker inflow, employers in sectors with few investments in research and development, and employers in sectors with a high share of collective bargaining agreements allow their employees to stay employed longer after the reform. These employers offer their older employees partial retirement instead of forcing them into unemployment before early retirement because the older employees incur low substitution costs and high dismissal costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting is an important aim of social policy. Three case studies in this paper reflect typical short-comings in the targeting design of pension reforms. The first case study examines how well work disability and receipt of disability insurance match in Germany. We show that the 2001 reform has not systematically improved target quality. The second case study examines whether the 2014 introduction of a new pathway of early retirement without actuarial adjustments has reached individuals who are less healthy because they have worked a long time in an arduous job. We find that the target population is actually healthier than the comparison group. Third, a much discussed supplemental pension benefit for households in the risk of poverty will miss its target population in both relevant directions: Regarding the first, 23% of those pensioners who are not eligible are nevertheless poor in the sense of the new law. Regarding the other direction, 21% of the eligible pensioners belong to the wealthier half of German pensioners. Since similar reforms are currently debated in many European countries, the three German case studies may serve as examples of how to better target public pension policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the work situation of lung cancer survivors and to identify the factors associated with their returning to work.Methods: Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to evaluate study population characteristics and independent factors of subsequently returning to work. To analyze time to return to work, Cox regression was used.Results: The study sample included 232 lung cancer survivors of working age from 717 enrolled participants in the multi-center cross-sectional LARIS (Quality of Life and Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Lung Cancer Survivors) study. About 67% of the survivors were not employed during the survey. More than 51% of the survivors who were employed before their illness did not return to their work. The survivors who had returned to their careers were younger, associated with higher household income, lower fatigue score, and stable relationship and vocational training. Patients who received social service counseling showed a higher chance of regaining their career.Conclusions: Lung cancer survivors were found to be associated with a high risk of unemployment and very low professional reintegration after interruption due to illness. More comprehensive studies are needed to support lung cancer survivors and targeting of patients in need of special attention in rehabilitation that would benefit from the findings in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We would assess the possible impact of a range of physical and psychosocial working conditions on early exit from paid employment (i.e., before retirement age) in a representative employee population in Germany. Methods: We analysed a cohort from the German Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) with a baseline of 2351 employees in 2011/12, sampled randomly from the register of integrated employment biographies (IEB) at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). Follow-up ended mid-2015. Early Exit comprised episodes of either pensioning, long-term sickness absence or unemployment ≥ 18 months. Total follow-up years were 8.422. Working conditions were partly assessed by the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Through Cox regressions, associations of baseline working conditions with time to event of exit were estimated—adjusting for baseline age, gender, poverty, fixed-term contract and socioeconomic position. Results: In multiple regressions, awkward body postures (HR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.07–1.44), heavy lifting (1.17; 1.00–1.37) and high work pace (1.41; 1.16–1.72) were associated with exit. The estimated attributable fraction of exit for being exposed to less than optimal work environment was 25%. Regarding specific exit routes, repetitive movements (1.25; 1.03–1.53) increased the risk for the long-term sickness absence; work pace (1.86; 1.22–2.86) and role clarity (0.55; 0.31–1.00) were associated to unemployment; and control over working time (0.72; 0.56–0.95) decreased the risk of the early retirement. Conclusions: Work environment seems to be important for subsequent early exit from work. Physical and psychosocial demands seem to be associated to exit to a stronger extent than resources at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transition from employment to retirement is regarded a crucial event. However, there is mixed evidence on associations between retirement and mental health, especially regarding early retirement. In Germany, cases of early retirement due to ill health—particularly, mental ill health—are increasing. Therefore, we investigated the association between early retirement and depressive symptoms, including information on different types of early retirement. Methods: We analyzed data from 4,808 participants of the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study (age: 40–65 years, 654 retired, 4,154 employed), controlling for sociodemographic information, social network, pre-existing health conditions, and duration of retirement. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Regression analysis using entropy balancing was applied to achieve covariate balance between retired and employed subjects. Results: We found no overall-differences in depressive symptoms between employed and retired persons (men: b = −.52; p = 0.431; women: b =.05; p =.950). When looking at different types of early retirement, ill-health retirement was linked to increased depressive symptoms in women (b = 4.68, 95% CI = 1.71; 7.65), while voluntary retirement was associated with reduced depressive symptoms in men (b= −1.83, 95% CI = −3.22; −.43) even after controlling for covariates. For women, statutory retirement was linked to lower depressive symptomatology (b = −2.00, 95% CI = −3.99; −.02). Conclusion: Depressive symptomatology among early retirees depends on reason for retirement: For women, ill-health retirement is linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms. Women who retire early due to ill-health constitute a risk group for depressive symptoms that needs specific attention in the health care and social security system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Career decisions are based on the fit between an individual and his/her environment. This study explores the effect of person-environment fit regarding actual and preferred weekly working hours on early and late retirement intentions in a sample of 7,859 employees aged 50 to 65 years of age living in Germany. Findings from multinomial logistic regression analysis show that a preferred decrease in working hours was associated with an increased risk for early retirement compared to regular retirement intentions (OR = 1.82). A preferred increase in working hours was associated with higher odds for a late career (OR = 1.87). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, an ageing population is affected by societal and political changes due to demographic transition, e.g. by a prolonged working life for older employees. Demographic change also influences persons of higher working age with a migrant background. In 2018, 25% of all employees in Germany had a migrant background. Those affected by poor health at a higher working age can benefit from medical rehabilitation services, which aim to prevent early retirement and disabilities. So far, the utilisation of medical rehabilitation has been lower among persons of foreign nationality (often the only available proxy for migrant background), compared to that of Germans. The aim of this scoping review is to assess the utilisation of medical rehabilitation services by those with migrant background (PMB) and those without (non-PMB) and to identify the differences between these groups. We included 25 studies in our analysis, which were mainly secondary analyses of routine data and also a small number of primary studies. The results were inconsistent: studies published before 2018 showed a lower use of rehabilitation services for persons of foreign nationality compared to Germans. However, no differences were found between PMB and non-PMB in studies published in 2018 or later. PMB, as well as foreign nationals, showed poorer health before medical rehabilitation utilisation and had a higher chance of occupational disease and a lower education level. We identified a lower work-related performance, as well as barriers (e.g. information deficits) in the utilisation of rehabilitation services for groups of PMB. Our review is limited in that we cannot generalise our results to all PMB living in Germany. This is because of the heterogeneity, the limited number of studies and lack of representativeness in some studies. In many cases, studies only analyse the nationality, but they lack information about the second generation PMB. Future studies should survey the utilisation of medical rehabilitation services by migrant background rather than by nationality and focus on changes in the provision of rehabilitation measures following diversity-centred strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last years, the employment rate of older workers has increased sharply in Germany. Against this background, the question arose as to whether firms have contributed actively to the growing share of older employees, either by offering special human resource management (HRM) measures, such as further training (internal strategy) or by hiring older employees from the external labour market (external strategy). Our paper analyses the interrelation between both strategies. By using data from the IAB Establishment Panel, we investigate the determinants of the firms' decision to use one or the other strategy or to combine both strategies. Our analyses show that some factors, such as firm size, experiences with older staff or a shortage of skilled workers promote the decision for both strategies. Other characteristics, in contrast, have a positive effect on one strategy only. This applies in particular to industrial relations, but also to the share of qualified workers within a company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of early retirement in Europe is typically attributed to the European system of taxes and transfers. A model with an imperfectly competitive labor market allows us to consider also the effects of bargaining power and of matching efficiency on pre‐retirement. We find that lower bargaining power of workers and declining matching efficiency have been important determinants of early retirement in France and Germany. These structural changes, combined with early retirement transfers and population aging, are also consistent with the employment and unemployment rates, labor share and seniority premia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychische Störungen sind komplexe, multifaktoriell bedingte Erkrankungen, von denen etwa jeder dritte erwachsene Deutsche im Laufe eines Jahres betroffen ist. Insbesondere Depressionen und Angsterkrankungen haben seit den 1990er Jahren zunehmend zu Fehlzeiten und Frühberentungen geführt. Geschlechterspezifische Aspekte sind im Wesentlichen zur Prävalenz psychischer Störungen bekannt, bedürfen aber hinsichtlich Risikofaktoren, gendersensitiver Diagnostik und Therapie weiterer interdisziplinärer Forschung, die nicht nur auf Frauen fokussiert. Hier liegen zur depressiven Symptomatik mittlerweile neue Erkenntnisse vor. Every third adult in Germany is affected by mental disorders during one year, especially by major depression which has caused an immense increase in work disability and early retirement since the 1990th. To date, gender aspects are mainly known with respect to the prevalence of mental disorders, while there is a lack of research on risk factors, symptom profiles, gendersensitive diagnostic and treatment, focussing not only on women. Meanwhile new findings on gender-related depressive symptoms shed critical light on men's depression rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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OBJECTIVE: Early retirement caused by invalidity is a major topic of research on teacher's health. The identification of influencing factors is important to implement appropriate prevention strategies. This study analyzes influencing factors on the subjective prognosis of long-term vocational disability in German teaching staff. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we analyzed medical records of N= 515 teachers and educational staff who had attended an occupational medical/psychological consultation between 2011 and 2016. The majority were women (73.0%; n = 375), the mean age was 49.6 (SD = 9.1) years. We used a comprehensive set of measures: work-related demands (Wuerzburg Screening) to identify occupational problems, vocational disability (SPE) and depression/anxiety (PHQ-9, GAD-7). RESULTS: Subjective prognosis of long-term vocational disability was significantly related to age, years of service, several work related strains as well as mental health symptoms. Significant predictors in a multiple logistic regression model were age (OR: 1.06), 'limited vocational capability' (OR: 1.65) and 'being loaded by work' (OR: 1.56). CONCLUSION: Professionals who are concerned with occupational health management should consider those factors in order to prevent or delay early retirement. Persons who are at high risk for early retirement should receive specific trainings or brief psychotherapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age discrimination is a common problem in organizations. In our pilot study, we want to explore the processes how the desired retirement age is influenced by age discrimination and see psychological empowerment as an important mediator for the relationship between these variables. Data stem from an online questionnaire completed by 130 employees from different organizations in Germany (all 50 years or older). Our results show that age discrimination is an antecedent for the desired retirement age. It has a direct as well as an indirect (via psychological empowerment) effect on the desired retirement age. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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This international study aimed to understand, from the perspective of surgeons, their experience of performing minimal access surgery (MAS), to explore causes of discomfort while operating and the impact of poor ergonomics on surgeon welfare and career longevity across different specialties and techniques. A quantitative online survey was conducted in Germany, the UK and the USA from March to April 2019. The survey comprised 17 questions across four categories: demographics, intraoperative discomfort, effects on performance and anticipated consequences. In total, 462 surgeons completed the survey. Overall, 402 (87.0%) surgeons reported experiencing discomfort while operating at least 'sometimes'. The peak professional performance age was perceived to be 45-49 years by 30.7% of surgeons, 50-54 by 26.4% and older than 55 by 10.1%. 86 (18.6%) surgeons felt it likely they would consider early retirement, of whom 83 were experiencing discomfort. Our findings highlight the continued unmet needs of surgeons performing MAS, with the overwhelming majority experiencing discomfort, frequently in the back, neck and shoulders, and many likely to consider early retirement consequently. Innovative solutions are needed to alleviate this physical burden and, in turn, prevent economic and societal impacts on healthcare systems resulting from MAS limiting surgeon longevity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Using data from the German Socio-economic Panel, we study how stratification in health and income contributes to the social cost of health-related early retirement, the balance of lost labour income and health benefits. On average, early retirees improve their health by almost two thirds of the loss suffered during the last four working years. We calibrate counterfactual scenarios and find keeping all workers in very good health, the highest of five categories of self-assessed health, would delay the average retirement age by more than three years and reduce the social costs by more than 20 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in mortality by retirement age have an important impact on the financing of pension insurance, yet no clear-cut results for Germany exist so far. We calculate mortality rates by retirement age from microdata on all German old-age pensioners and 1.84 million deceases. The life expectancies and survival probabilities at age 65 are estimated for population subgroups according to creditable periods because of disease and pension income. Early-retired men who reach the age of 65 years live significantly longer the later early retirement occurs; the life expectancy at age 65 ranges from 13 to 17.8 years. For each retirement age, mortality of men is higher the more periods of disease are credited in the pension insurance system. For a given length of credited periods of disease, mortality of early retirees decreases with the retirement age. 'Healthy worker selection effects' operating in the labour market may contribute to these results. The 'work longer, live longer'-result is found for each pension income quintile, which resolves the J-curve pattern found in the literature. The mortality of female old-age pensioners varies little with retirement age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several European countries, older unemployed people, after reaching a certain age, are entitled to unemployment benefit payments without having to seek new employment. The coexistence of this exemption clause and of reforms aimed at containing early retirement in the respective countries reflects a conflict of political aims – on the one hand, between an efficient labour-market policy at a time of high unemployment, and on the other hand, the goal of the comprehensive activation and labour-market integration of older workers as a response to demographic change. This paper deals with the reasons for the transfer of older long-term unemployed people on to ‘facilitated benefits’ for labour-market withdrawal in Germany. The empirical analysis shows that low or no propensity to work was rarely the motive for leaving the labour market; in particular, those anticipating a low retirement income actually wanted to be re-employed. The vast majority gave three reasons for the decision to retire: an inability to cope with requirements of available jobs; a lack of job opportunities; and an absence of proper support from the public employment agency. Thus the withdrawal of older long-term unemployed people into pre-retirement cannot be attributed to a utility-maximising decision in favour of leisure and against gainful employment, but is the primary result of the scarce re-employment prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We study the impact of new drug launches on early retirement due to disease and injury in the German labor force between 1988 and 2004. We show that new drug launches have substantially helped to reduce the loss of labor at the disease-level over time. In Western Germany alone, each new chemical entity is estimated to have saved on average around 200 working years in every year of the observation period. Controlling for individual determinants of retirement, the 2001 reform of pension laws appears to have led to further reductions in the loss of labor from disease and injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Britain and Germany, like much of the Western world have concerns about the ageing of the population and early exit of older workers from the labour market. Policy debates have focused on direct changes to retirement ages and incentives to encourage greater pension saving. Less attention has been paid to the role of health. We use hazard models applied to longitudinal data from Britain and Germany to estimate the effect of health on early retirement among men. Our results show that health is a key determinant, and its effect is large compared to that of other variables, including the type of pension an individual has access to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In a long-term prospective cohort study we try to assess selective and protective impacts of early retirement on life expectancy. The results are based on the members of a compulsory German health insurance fund (Gmünder Ersatzkasse). We analyzed 88,399 men and 41,276 women who retired between the ages of 50 and 65 from January 1990 to December 2004. Our main outcome measures are hazard ratios for death adjusted for age, sex, marital and socioeconomic status, year of observation, age at retirement, hospitalization, and form of retirement scheme. We found a significantly higher mortality risk among pensioners with reduced earning capacities than among old-age pensioners who either left the labor market between the ages of 56 and 60 or between 61 and 65. The youngest male and female pensioners who left the labor market between the ages of 51 and 55 because of their reduced earning capacity faced the highest mortality risk. But healthy people who retire early do not experience shorter long-term survival than those who retire late. On the contrary, if we take into consideration the amount of days spent in hospital during the last 2 years prior to retirement, early retirement in fact lowers mortality risks significantly by 12% for men and by 23% for women. Thus with respect to mortality, early retirement reflects both selective and protective processes. First of all, individuals with poor health and lower survival chances are filtered out of the labor market. However, healthy pensioners may be protected during retirement. For the former, early retirement is a necessity, for the latter it is an asset. Pension reformers should take health differentials into consideration when cutting back pension programs and increasing retirement age. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents an analysis on the transition from work to retirement in a welfare regime perspective in Italy, Germany, Denmark, and the U.S. It examines the factors that affect the early retirement of workers in the labor force such as labor market status, health status, and education level. According to the result of the analysis, the national welfare regimes affect the decision of workers to leave the labor market in an early time.

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Although early retirement causes major changes in the life of schizophrenic patients and is among the major cost factors to be covered by payers, the causes leading to early retirement of schizophrenic patients have not been investigated in detail. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective non-interventional case-control study was to generate hypotheses on predisposing factors for early retirement in schizophrenia. Logistic regression was used to explore potential predisposing parameters with regard to their effect on the outcome early retirement. As the study results indicate, schizophrenia severity, assistance or care in the patient’s everyday life, age and antipsychotic treatment with typical antipsychotics are linked to the occurrence of early retirement. Further research should be planned to confirm or refute the hypotheses determined in this retrospective analysis and to determine whether atypical antipsychotics could help to avoid early retirement and to improve the situation of schizophrenic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we investigate whether early retirement patterns vary between countries with distinct early retirement systems. By choosing countries that differ not only with respect to the coverage and generosity of publicly provided pensions but also with respect to the extent to which the state interferes in the non-public pillars of pension provision, we analyse to what extent such issues have an effect on individual early retirement behaviour. Selectivity effects are expected to be stronger in countries with highly fragmented public systems or private early retirement schemes. By pursuing a shift to more private pension provisions, governments might unintentionally create more inequality in early retirement opportunities among the population. For the analysis we use longitudinal data, i.e. British Household Panel Study (BHPS) 1991-2004 (the United Kingdom), the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) 1990-2005 (Germany, and the Socia-Economics Panel (SEP) 1990-2001 (Netherlands) and a discrete-time competing-risks model. The results suggest that pursuing a shift from public to private early retirement schemes can lower the incidence of early retirement. Yet, at the same time, early retirement can get more selective in that only the higher paid are able to afford it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective This population-based study assesses the prevalence and cost of illness as a result of diabetes mellitus in Germany by retrospectively analysing routine health insurance data. Prevalence and costs were analysed from statutory health insurance (GKV) and societal perspectives. Research design and methods The analysis comprises data of all insured persons of six large sickness funds. The insured with diabetes were identified via ICD-9 diagnosis and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC) code for regular medication prescriptions. Costs for inpatient stay, medication and sickness benefits were taken from claims data. Costs for rehabilitation, premature death and early retirement were calculated using the human capital approach and data from national statistics. Results Overall diabetes prevalence in this age and sex standardized census of six large sickness funds was 6.45%. The cost of illness for sickness funds including hospital cost, medication and sickness benefits, and excluding ambulatory doctor care, were €3.69bn. The total cost of diabetes from a societal perspective was calculated at €5.71bn for the year 1999. Conclusion In accordance with the results of recent studies using routinely collected health insurance data, our study suggests that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus has increased steadily in the past years. The prevalence in our population of 14.7 million insured was 6.45%. Total costs of diabetes mellitus amounted to €5.71bn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:School principals play an important role in maintaining the performance and health of teachers but often feel over-burdened themselves and suffer illnesses, which not only impairs their health-promoting function but also leads to limitations in their fitness for the occupation. The aim of our study was, therefore, using objective parameters and larger numbers of cases, to obtain a differentiated insight into the morbidity and the health-related early retirement of school principals.Methods:In a prospective total assessment (the whole of Bavaria, a state in southern Germany) in the period from 1997 to 1999 all medical examinations of school principals performed to decide the question of early retirement were evaluated. The analysis included, e.g., socio-demographic/occupational factors, diagnoses, assessment of performance and rehabilitation. The data were sampled in a standardised, anonymous questionnaire, which provided the database. Evaluation was carried out by means of descriptive statistics.Results:The median age of the 408 school principals included in the evaluation (heads and vice-heads, 30% of whom were women) was 58 years (minimum 41 years, maximum 64 years). The most frequent workplaces were primary schools (63%). A total of 84% (n=342) of the headmasters was assessed to be unfit for work. The main reasons for early retirement were psychiatric/psychosomatic disorders (F-ICD 10) which made up 45% of the cases. The relative frequency was higher in women than in men. Depressive disorders and exhaustion syndromes (burnout) dominated among the psychiatric diagnoses (proportion 57%). The most frequent somatic illnesses were cardiovascular diseases (I-ICD10) in 19% of cases, then muscular/skeletal diseases (M-ICD10) in 10% and malignant tumours (C-ICD 10) in 9% of cases. Cardiovascular diseases, in particular arterial hypertension and ischaemic heart disease, were found in headmasters significantly more frequently than in teachers without a headship function (P=0.05). A total of 63% (n=257) of the school principals had participated in at least one medical rehabilitation before the proceedings for determining unfitness for work were instigated. The performance of 66% (n=226) of those judged unfit for work was assessed to be so severely impaired that no other employment could be expected of them.Conclusions:The morbidity spectrum of school principals prematurely unfit for work is characterised by stress-associated diseases. The health disorders objectified are of considerable relevance for policy and administration. Specific prevention and intervention must, therefore, also include this occupational group. Activity should not be limited to the prevention of behavioural problems but should also take into account important aspects for preventing adverse circumstances arising at the school workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the question of a fair mathematical formula for reasonably reducing retirement insurance benefits for early retirees in Germany. The authors present and analyze several formulas and suggest a fair mathematical means of apportioning benefit amounts based on how early the retirement is and actuarial statistics.

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The article discusses the introduction in Germany of phased retirement as an alternative to early retirement. An older worker reduces working time and can begin to adapt to eventual full retirement while creating a full or part time job for another young or unemployed worker. The article discusses the implications of phased retirement for social benefit contributions from the employer and the state.

Over the past twenty-five years, unemployment has been growing continuously in West Germany. In this study one of the reasons for growing unemployment is analysed: unemployment of older people in their transition from employment to retirement. First, the different possibilities of transitions into retirement are explained within the framework of social security regulations. Taking this legal framework as a starting point, early retirement passages are then modelled with the IAB unemployment sub-sample. It will be shown that - due to the long duration of these unemployment episodes - early retirement contributed considerably to the rise of total unemployment. Early retirement patterns will be broken down by economic sub-sectors and establishment size. It turns out that this kind of unemployment originates primarily from large establishments in manufacturing and extractive industries. Multivariate analysis presented at the end of the paper also includes personal characteristics such as gender or skills and income levels. In the light of these findings, the 'push' and 'pull' hypothesis common in explaining early exit are discussed. Drawing on the statistical findings as well as on the institutional analysis, it is argued that both kinds of factors are at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of an empirical study from the Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP) on the subject of retirement behavior among older employees in Germany. In particular, factors influencing early retirement are examined and the relevancy of social legislation with regard to retirement behavior is analyzed.

The article discusses early retirement in Germany and a government proposal to set retirement age at 60. The statutory conditions for early retirees are set forth including 35 years' labor, the severely handicapped or work incapacitated, certain unemployed persons, and women aged 60 with 10 years of social security premium payments. The impact of early retirement on the labor market is discussed.

The article discusses some of the impacts of the Altersteilzeitgesetz (partial retirement law), which was enacted to reduce unemployment of German youth by permitting early and part-time retirement of older workers. A drawback is that employers must subsidize early retirement benefits in return for flexibility in their employment policy. The partial pension is said to allow for a stepwise retirement.

The article discusses the employment participation of older workers in the new German states since the German reunification and the social consequences of early retirement. Earlier economic conditions and structural changes in East Germany (DDR) caused great incentives for early retirement to be offered. The situation has shown a trend in reverse for older DDR workers since the reunification.