In Germany, a large proportion of new retirees—at times, more than half of them—have taken disability retirement. This study investigates the role of expected benefits in determining that choice. The author finds that among German men in 1984–91, age, health, and prior wages were much stronger predictors of the transition into disability retirement than were expected benefits. She concludes that a benefit reduction would be largely ineffective in reducing the high level of disability retirement in Germany.
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