Pension Reform and Retirement Behaviour in Poland – Interdisciplinary Analysis

Pension reform in Poland totally changes financial and legal incentives that shape retirement behaviour. Among others, the early retirement option was abolished and a contribution-benefit equivalence was introduced. The paper presents an analysis of financial effects of these changes for pensioners and potential adaptations of retirement behaviour on the basis of the rational choice theory. Next, referring to sociological theories of ageing, the cultural and institutional influence was considered. It is projected that the category of pensioners will become much more diversified financially and most of older people will decide to postpone the retirement. Potentially, it may lead to a new pattern of ageing in Poland, an active one with positive implications for older people. However, multiple factors, among others: “the culture of early retirement” and labour supply limitations, might counteract this process