April 23 & 24, 2009Introduction
Increasing the labor market participation of older workers is a top priority for most governments in Europe. Indeed, many countries have been reforming their pension systems, early retirement schemes and social insurance policies. Yet, the labor market issues for older workers encompass much more than just the incentives for labor supply and involve also labor demand and labor market institutions. For instance, firms determine the hiring and firing of older workers, firms set wages and make tenure decisions, and they decide about investment in life-long learning. Moreover, institutions such as employment protection legislation, social benefits for unemployment, disability or sickness, trade unions and pension regulations matter for the functioning of the labor market of older workers. In light of these policy issues, Netspar (a knowledge network on aging, pensions and retirement and CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (the main research unit of the Dutch government on economic policy) will organize a conference on April 23-24, 2009 entitled Rethinking Retirement.
This two-day conference brings together leading economists and policy makers to discuss the challenges for the labor market of older workers.
In particular, we aim to address three main issues.
- Supply incentives:
What are the incentive effects induced by labor market institutions for life-cycle participation, learning and exit from the labor market? What do we know about the impact of social insurance schemes on retirement decisions? How important is wealth accumulation for voluntary exit? How do optimal tax-benefit systems differentiate with respect to age; e.g. is there a rationale for taxing elderly workers at a lower rate than younger workers?
- Demand for older workers:
Do life-cycle earnings profiles reflect labour productivity? What happens with economic incentives in various labor contracts over time and how is ageing affecting those? What public policies are optimal to affect firm behavior in employing elderly workers and maintaining their human capital?
- Labor market institutions:
How do institutions, such as trade unions, employment protection legislation and pension schemes, affect the functioning of the labor market of elderly workers? What is the role of implicit contracts? How do replacement incomes (e.g. unemployment insurance, sickness and disability benefits, early retirement schemes) affect labor market incentives over the life-cycle. What are desirable reform options? What can we learn from other countries.
The emphasis on policy implications is the main focus of the conference.
Organized by:
Lans Bovenberg, Bas Jacobs, Ruud de Mooij, Daniel van Vuuren, Ton van der Wijst
Netspar, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Analysis, Social and Economic Council
Sponsored by:
Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Conference venue:
Social and Economic Council, Bezuidenhoutseweg 60, 2594 AW The Hague
Attendance
Attendance to this annual conference is by invitation only.
