Rising life expectancy and recent economic developments are challenging the financial sustainability of old-age provision. Against this backdrop, a public debate is taking place in many Western countries, including Switzerland, about increasing the retirement age.

In their new research project, Isabel Baumann and her project team intend to investigate the correlation between increasing the retirement age and health inequalities in later phases of life. On the one hand, the researchers are exploring what consequences the prolongation of a person’s working life can have on their physical, mental and cognitive health. On the other hand, they are investigating the implications that a prolonged working life might have for older employees with health problems. The researchers are particularly interested in whether increasing the retirement age has different consequences for different socio-economic groups.

Isabel Baumann’s study examines the situation in Sweden and the USA, as well as in Switzerland,. This project is being conducted at the Research Unit for Health Sciences and also envisages collaboration with researchers within the ZHAW and at other universities in Switzerland, Sweden and the USA. In addition, the project is associated with the «Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives» National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR LIVES).