Retirement is the status of a worker who has stopped working. A person may also semi-retire and keep some sort of job, although usually out of choice rather than necessity. This usually happens upon reaching a determined age, when physical conditions don't allow the person to work any more (by illness or accident), or even for personal choice (usually in the presence of an adequate pension or personal savings). The retirement with a pension is considered a right of the worker in many societies, and hard ideological, social, cultural and political battles have been fought over whether this is a right or not. In many western countries this right is mentioned in national constitutions.

Retirement age

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In most countries, the idea of a fixed retirement age is of recent origin, being introduced during the 19th and 20th centuries - before then, the absence of pension arrangements meant that most workers had to continue to work until death, or rely on the support of family or friends. Nowadays most developed nations have systems to provide pensions on retirement in old age, which may be sponsored by employers or the state. In many poorer countries, support for the old is still mainly provided through the family.

The retirement age varies from country to country but it is generally between 55 and 70. In some countries this age is different for male and females. Sometimes certain jobs, the most dangerous or fatiguing ones in particular, have an earlier retirement age.

More on [ Retirement ]

NYT > U.S.

Detroit’s Mayor Will Leave Office and Go to Jail
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:33:20 -0000
Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick’s guilty plea ended eight months of political turmoil but also opened a new era of uncertainty for Detroit.
McCain Vows to End ‘Partisan Rancor’
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:50:25 -0000
Senator John McCain sought to move from a convention marked by an effort to reassure the party base to an appeal to a broader electorate.
New Orleans Starts Up, but Not at Full Power
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:08:46 -0000
Evacuees continued to stream home after a hurricane scare that left it with little serious damage but knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes.

Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories

In dispirited Detroit, mayor pleads guilty
Plea deal ousts Kilpatrick after an eight-month scandal. Interim mayor inherits a city in a slump.
As Gustav evacuees return to New Orleans, a varied homecoming
Many find their houses are fairly intact. Power loss is still a problem.
France gives boost to Israeli-Syrian talks
French President Sarkozy, in Damascus this week, was also thought to be seeking Syria's help in dealing with Iran's nuclear program.

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