Early retirement in an international perspective

Early retirement and sick pension in Sweden have almost doubled during the last two decades. Today more than 5 percent are pensioned. The situation in Sweden must be seen connection with the international development of early retirement and therefore the following study has been made in the industrialized countries (the OECD-countries plus the industrialized states in East Europe). Assistance at the data collection was given by the ministries of social affairs in respective countries. The study shows that in all countries there is an increase of sick pension and early retirement. Exceptions are England and West Germany where the development is more even. A plausible explanation might be that both countries were involved in the world war II and that among the early retirees is a large group of war invalids. Today, 35 years after the war, this group should be refound in ages over 55, i.e. the ages when early retirement passes over to age retirement. If the outflow from the group is large it could hide the inflow of a large number of normal early retirees.