Retirement and responsibilisation – Current narratives about the end of working life

Lain, D; Vickerstaff, S; van-der-Horst, M

doi:10.51952/9781529215021.ch009

Retirement and responsibilisation – Current narratives about the end of working life

Lookup NU author(s): Professor David Lain

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Abstract

This concluding chapter discusses the findings and contribution of the book. It first elaborates on why the concept of bridge jobs used extensively in previous research is problematic for the purpose of making sense of job transitions. It then draws on qualitative evidence from the country chapters to explore key themes from the book. It looks at why job transitions in older age must be understood in the context of neoliberal responsibilization and ‘appeals to freedom’. The chapter then explores ‘psychological reactance’ as a means of understanding older workers’ job transitions. Next, it looks in more depth at the constraints on individuals exercising control over the transitions they make and the inequalities that result. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the theoretical and empirical contributions of the book to the literature, and how it can inform future research on job transitions in older age.