America is at a crossroads in its approach to work and retirement.
Many policymakers think it's logical—almost inevitable—that Americans will delay retirement and spend more years in the paid labor force. But it's an assumption that doesn't match the reality of a large and growing proportion of Americans. Precarious working conditions, family caregiving responsibilities, poor health, and age discrimination will make it difficult or impossible for many to work longer.
Overtime offers a current, revelatory corrective to our understanding of the future of the American workforce and aging. We examine trends and inequalities in employment, health, family dynamics, and politics, helping to shed light on the challenges faced by traditionally marginalized social groups while showing that our society’s responses to an aging workforce affect us all. Policies affecting work must be considered alongside policies affecting retirement and provide a path forward to achieve better retirement security for all Americans.
BIO
Lisa Berkman, Cabot Professor of Public Policy, Epidemiology and Global and Population Health at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and Director, Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies
