Money, choice and control

This report looks at the role of finances in decisions about early moves out of work, and the effect of such moves on future finances. The report draws on in-depth interviews with people who make an early move towards retirement. It makes a distinctive contribution to understanding their experiences, by looking at the importance of money alongside other influences, including health and domestic circumstances. Money, choice and control: · sheds light on the relative importance of financial incentives in shaping retirement behaviour; · draws on individual life stories to paint a detailed picture of the diverse perspectives of people making early transitions to retirement; · explores people's motivations, circumstances and experiences, identifying underlying rationales and explanations for behaviour; · feeds into key current policy debates around the future of pensions, and the employment of older and disabled workers. Transitions after 50 series People are living longer, yet increasingly are leaving working life well before the state retirement age. The Joseph Rowntree Fountain programme, Transitions after 50, explores people's experiences, decisions and constraints as they pass from active labour market participation in their middle years towards a new identity in later life. Reports in this series look in particular at issues about work, income and activities beyond work during this period of transition. For other titles in this series, please follow the series link from the main catalogue page.

Sue Arthur is a Research Director in the Qualitative Research Unit at the National Centre for Social Research, Britain's largest independent social research institute. She is responsible for the conduct of qualitative studies in a range of social policy areas, and has a particular research interest in family finances.