The Political Economy of Work in the 21st Century: Implications for an Aging American Workforce

(Hardback)

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When Congress enacted Social Security in 1935, with the age of retirement set at age 65, average life expectancy was 62 years. By the time Medicare was enacted 30 years later, life expectancy had risen to the age of 76 today and may be expected to increase further in the decades to come. Clearly, the increase in post-retirement life expectancy has significant implications for the level of national expenditures attributable to an ageing population. One of the approaches suggested as a solution to the so-called income transfer problem is to redefine old age, that is, to push retirement and its associated benefits off to a later age. This would effectively increase the size of the workforce, with older workers continuing to contribute their payroll taxes for an extended period of time. The critical question Sicker poses is, will there be enough appropriate employment opportunities for a growing number of older workers in the workforce of the future The evidence for a positive response is far from clear or compelling.

Reviews

[A]n insightful contribution to the literature on the social consequences of an aging society. It provides cogent reasons to doubt rosy predictions of abundant job opportunities for older workers in the years ahead, and challenges readers to consider realistic policy options to create meaningful job opportunities for the growig share of the population that is elderly or near elderly.-Industrial and Labor Relations Review
[U]seful for mixed audiences such as open-enrollment credit classes in labor studies, particularly classes on the political economy.-Labor Studies Journal
Appropriate for general readers.-Choice
Appropriate for general readers.Choice
"An insightful contribution to the literature on the social consequences of an aging society. It provides cogent reasons to doubt rosy predictions of abundant job opportunities for older workers in the years ahead, and challenges readers to consider realistic policy options to create meaningful job opportunities for the growig share of the population that is elderly or near elderly."-Industrial and Labor Relations Review
"Useful for mixed audiences such as open-enrollment credit classes in labor studies, particularly classes on the political economy."-Labor Studies Journal
"[U]seful for mixed audiences such as open-enrollment credit classes in labor studies, particularly classes on the political economy."-Labor Studies Journal
"Appropriate for general readers."-Choice
"[A]n insightful contribution to the literature on the social consequences of an aging society. It provides cogent reasons to doubt rosy predictions of abundant job opportunities for older workers in the years ahead, and challenges readers to consider realistic policy options to create meaningful job opportunities for the growig share of the population that is elderly or near elderly."-Industrial and Labor Relations Review

Author Bio

MARTIN SICKER is a private consultant and lecturer who has served as a senior executive in the U.S. government and has taught political science at the American University and the George Washington University. He has also served as a director at the American Associaiton of Retired Persons, dealing with workforce issues and programs, and as a consultant to the National Older Worker Career Center. Sicker is the author of 20 earlier books on political science and international affairs.