The Political Feasibility of Increasing the Retirement Age: Lessons from a Ballot on the Female Retirement Age

Monika Bütler ()

International Tax and Public Finance, 2002, vol. 9, issue 4, 349-365

Abstract: In 1998, the Swiss voters approved of an increase in the female retirement age within the public pension system from 62 to 64. The referendum, being on a single issue only, offers a unique opportunity to explore the political feasibility of pension reforms and to apply theoretical models of life-cycle decision making. Estimates carried out with municipality data suggest that the outcome of the vote conforms well with predictions drawn from a theoretical model. Young agents, elderly and—to a lesser extent—middle-aged men favor an increase in female retirement age, while middle-aged women strongly oppose it. Richer communities and those with a high proportion of self-employed or a low fraction of blue-collar workers are more likely to opt for a higher retirement age. Ideological preferences and regional differences also play a considerable role. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002

Keywords: social security reforms; (female) retirement age; life-cycle decision making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2002
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Working Paper: The Political Feasibility of Increasing Retirement Age: Lessons from a Ballot on Female Retirement Age (2001)
Working Paper: The Political Feasibility of Increasing Retirement Age: Lessons from a Ballot on Female Retirement Age (2000)
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DOI: 10.1023/A:1016555700763

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