The economics of labour markets and retirement provision: Baby boomers and gender differences in Australia
Year: 2002
Type: report
Abstract: High priority has been given to understanding the economic and social consequences of an ageing population.The economics of retirement provision, particularly occupational superannuation, has received priority attention as a result of budgetary pressures on the Age Pension system.The different needs and experiences of women have, however, received limited attention although available literature does highlight significant gender considerations that are worthy of further inquiry.Micro-simulations projecting women's likely superannuation accumulations highlight the various constraints women face in accumulating an independent private retirement income (Preston and Austen 2001). The current paper builds on the micro-simulations reported in Preston andAusten and focuses on the specific case of baby boomers, a group particularly affected by changing economic, social and political contexts.Starting with a discussion of the economics of retirement provision the paper moves to an empirical analysis of contrasting male and female labour markets and the effects on employment, participation, pay and forms of employment.The paper also considers societal changes such as the incidence of divorce and family formation.In the final part of the paper the effectiveness of private occupational superannuation as a retirement income source is brought under the spotlight and critical questions asked regarding the capacity of this system to provide for the needs of those with intermittent periods of labour market attachment.
Source: eSpace (Curtin University)
Authors: Alison Preston, Therese Jefferson
Institution: Curtin University
Language: English
Subfield: Accounting
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Curtin University of Technology
OpenAlex ID: W2105947620