The study compares the retirement plans and preferences of a recent sample of older Americans. The Data suggest that a substantial minority of older workers expect to retire earlier than they really want to, and that many would delay retirement under different terms and conditions of employment....

The trend toward earlier and earlier retirement was one of the most important labor market developments of the twentieth century. It was evident in all the major industrialized countries. In the United States, however, the trend toward earlier retirement came to at least a temporary halt in the...