Planet Money : NPR
This NPR Planet Money episode explores the complex debate surrounding retirement age in the modern workforce. It features perspectives on whether mandatory retirement at 70 is necessary or if workers should be encouraged to delay retirement even further.
Why it matters
As life expectancy increases and social safety nets face funding challenges, the tension between older workers staying in the workforce and younger workers seeking career advancement is becoming a significant economic and social issue.
flyzone/iStockphoto/Getty Images When workers past retirement age can't afford to retire — that's one thing. When they can, and just don't want to — that's trickier.
It used to be legal to force people to retire when they hit a certain age. The trend used to be earlier and earlier retirement. Now it's later and later retirement. And younger workers say it's impacting their career advancement and their ability to save for their own retirement.
At the same time, older workers are living longer, Social Security and Medicare funding are less secure than ever … and many people want to keep working.
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