The Economics of Labour Markets and Retirement Provision: Baby Boomers and Gender Differences in Australia.

By Alison Preston and Therese Jefferson

The economics of retirement provision have taken centre stage as budgetary constraints and the media has highlighted panics.

The different needs and experiences of women have received limited attention although available literature does highlight significant gender considerations that need further study. This paper builds on micro-simulations and focuses on baby-boomers, a group affected by changing economic, social and political contexts. The paper provides an empirical analysis of contrasting male and female 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. Finally the paper looks at the effectiveness of private occupational superannuation as a retirement income source is brought under the spotlight and critical questions are asked regarding the capacity of the system to provide for the needs of those with intermittent periods of labour market attachment.

(Negotiating the Life Course Discussion Paper DP-010, November 2002)