Why to go for early retirement? Determinants for early exit from the labour market: The evidence from Bulgaria

Abstract

In line with the increase of retirement age and challenges toward longer and healthier working lives in Europe, this evidence-based research aims to enlighten determinants of early retirement in Bulgaria, which is the most rapidly ageing and economically deprived country in European Union. This cross-sectional analysis is based on Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE: release 7.0). The early retirement plans for late career Bulgarians are significantly shaped by gender. Early retirement could be perceived as a source of guaranteed income and solution in case of unsecured employment, especially to those with bad health and low education.