The Social Dynamics of Early Withdrawal from the Labour Force in France

• Published in: Ageing and society 1985-12, Vol.5 (4), p.381-412
• Main Author: Guillemard, Anne-Marie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ageing; Demography; France; Labor Policy; Labour force; Labour policy; Retirement
• ISSN: 0144-686X; 1469-1779
• DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X00011995

Out of a vast set of empirical research data about the making of old-age policy (retirement, jobs, way of life) in France since 1945, a sociological interpretation is proposed of the social dynamics that have underlain the exceptional development of programmes for the early withdrawal of elderly persons from the labour force. During a long initial phase, each of the major social actors (the state, the labour unions and the employers' national organisation) attempted to impose its own version of a policy of jobs for older workers. Thereafter (1975–1977), arguments and viewpoints began [gradually] converging. Under pressure from the economy and owing to the new line-up of political forces, all actors agreed, for various reasons, on a policy of literally ‘unemploying’ older workers. The rapid expansion of this policy has plunged French old-age policy not only into a financial crisis, as these so-called ‘pre-retirement’ schemes ate up more than half the unemployment fund in 1984, but also into a crisis of legitimacy and of motivation. As a consequence of this ‘unemployment’ policy, the life-span has been socially redefined and the very meanings of old age and of retirement have been confused.