Micheel, Frank (2021)
Journal of Aging & Social Policy 33,2: 101–119
DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2019.1685354
Within the controversial active aging discourse in Germany, this article discusses if older people are willing to be active in retirement and which factors explain this phenomenon. Empirical analyses are based on the German representative survey “Transitions and Old Age Potentials” with an analytic sample of 1,313 blue and white collar workers born between 1946 and 1958. Results imply that intended unpaid post-retirement activities are a high priority in older adulthood. Furthermore, retirement planning shows the strongest association between paid and unpaid activities. Aside from actual retirement behavior, this study underlines the relevance of intended post-retirement work as an important facet in the active aging discourse.