Extending Working Lives: A Systematic Review of Motivations, Determinants, and Institutional Contexts

Xander Lansink, Raymond Montizaan and Salman Patel
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Xander Lansink: RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, ROA / Labour market and training
Raymond Montizaan: RS: GSBE UM-BIC, ROA / Labour market and training
Salman Patel: RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, ROA / Labour market and training

No 2, ROA Technical Report from Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA)

Abstract: Rising statutory retirement ages and population aging have increased interest in why individuals work beyond retirement. This systematic literature review synthesizes evidence from 103 studies, including 11 with causal designs, on post-retirement employment. We examine the roles of financial incentives, health, job characteristics, intrinsic motivation, family, and institutional context. Causal studies show modest effects of pension reforms, tax incentives, and abolitions of mandatory retirement, while employer practices and workplace flexibility strongly shape opportunities. Observational evidence highlights heterogeneous patterns across socioeconomic groups, sectors, and welfare-state regimes: financial necessity dominates in liberal systems, whereas voluntary engagement and identity motives are more important in social-democratic contexts. The findings underscore the need for multidimensional, coordinated policy approaches, combining macro-level incentives with firm-level practices and flexible work arrangements, to effectively extend working lives.

Keywords: Post-retirement employment; Determinants; Institutional Context (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H55 J14 J26 J32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-04-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-hea and nep-lma
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unm:umarot:2026002

DOI: 10.26481/umarot.2026002

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