Sociology 432/632 Work and Retirement

Spring Semester, 2001

Thursday 7:00-9:30 P.M.

Leslie Morgan, Ph.D.

Office: 333 B ACIV

Phone: 410 455-2074

FAX: 410 455-1154

Office Hours: M 1:00-2:00, W 3:30-4:30, Th 6:00-7:00 Or by appointment

e-mail: lmorgan@umbc.edu

Course Purpose: This course employs a sociological perspective as the central framework to examine the important issues of labor force involvement of individuals as they age. The set of related topics to be discussed relate to individuals and the choices/opportunities they face and to societal issues of equity, dependency and the meaning of work. Through reading, class lecture and discussion and researching these issues for term paper(s), students will develop a better understanding of these important, topical issues.

Readings:
 
  REQUIREMENTS: Since the course can be taken for either undergraduate or graduate credit, there is a distinction drawn in the requirements for each group.
  1. Reading assignments are given on a week-by-week basis. It is understood that only a rough correspondence between reading and lecture will occur in any particular class session. Students are responsible for assigned readings even if they are not discussed in class. All readings assigned prior to the mid-term will be covered in that exam. Any reading may be included in the final. All reading items marked * are for graduate students only
2. Lecture/class participation. It is assumed that all students will attend class unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. Those who find it necessary to miss class should try to get good notes from another student, since lecture/discussion material may include information not in the readings. It is expected that students who have read the assigned material prior to class will be able to participate knowledgeably in discussion and to ask informed questions. Participation is encouraged, and, while it will not constitute a formal percentage of the final grade, it may be a determining factor for students who are borderline. 3. Grading: Students will be graded on a point system for the following items: 30% Mid-term examination: Combined essay and objective test (approximately 50/50) to be given March 29, 2001 at the regular class time. A study/review guide will be available prior to the exam.

35% Final examination: Same format as the mid-term. Comprehensive, but emphasizing the second half of class material. Exam is scheduled to be given May 17, 2001 8:30-10:30 PM

Examination Policy: Students are expected to take exams on time unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. Those who must miss an exam must call or e-mail the instructor prior to class at the numbers above or leave a message regarding their reasons for missing the exam, where they can be reached to schedule a makeup, etc. Students who fail to do this will not be given a makeup exam. The instructor retains the option of giving a different form of exam (i.e., all essay) as a makeup. All makeups must be done within a week of the regularly scheduled exam date. Students who fail to appear for a scheduled makeup will be given a zero.

35% Paper assignment: (See Paper Addendum Sheets)

Undergraduates: Initial Topic Proposals 2/8/01 Final papers due 5/3/01 Graduate due dates: March 1, 2001 April 5, 2001

May 3, 2001
 
 

WEEKLY TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

2/1/01 Course Introduction

2/8/01 Work and Retirement Issues: The Big Picture

. Morgan, L. & S. Kunkel 2001 AEmployment and Retirement@ in Aging: The Social Context. Boston: Pine Forge Press.

Morris, R. and S.A. Bass. 1988. AToward a New Paradigm About Work and Age.@ Pp 3-14 in Morris & Bass (Eds) Retirement Reconsidered. New York: Springer.

G *Henretta, John 1994. ASocial Structure and Age-Based Careers.@ Pp 57-79 in Riley, Kahn and Foner (Eds) Age and Structural Lag. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

2/15/01 Demography and the Older Workforce

Friedland, R.B. & L. Summer 1999 Demography is Not Destiny. Pp. 7-18 and 29-54. Washington, D.C.: National Academy on an Aging Society.

Sandell, Steven H. 1987. AProspects for Older Workers: The Demographic and Economic Context.@ Pp 3-14 in S.H. Sandell (ed) The Problem Isn=t Age. New York: Praeger.

G Hayward, M.D. and M.C. Liu. 1992. AMen and Women in Their Retirement Years: A Demographic Profile.@ Pgs 23-50 in Szinovacz, M., D.J. Ekerdt, and B.H. Vinick (Eds). Families and Retirement. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

2/22/01 Working in Society: Micro and Macro Perspectives

 Moody, Harry R. ADoes Retirement Make Sense?@ Pp 297-341 in ## G Riley, Matilda W. and John W. Riley, Jr. 1994 AStructural Lag: Past and Present.@ Pp 15-36 in Riley, Kahn and Foner (eds) Age and Structural Lag. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
 
 
 
 
 
  3/1/01 Abilities & Health of Older Workers

Commonwealth Fund. 1993 AOlder Americans at Work.@ Pp 14-28 in The Untapped Resource. New York: Author.

Peterson, D. and S. Coberly "The Older Worker: Myths and Realities." Chap 8 in Retirement Reconsidered.

G Crimmins, E.M., S.L. Reynolds and Y. Saito. 1999. ATrends in Health and Ability to Work Among the Working-Age Population.@ Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences. 54B (1):S31-S40.

3/8/01 Age Discrimination in Employment

Sandell, Steven H. ALabor Market Problems and Employment Policies Affecting Older Americans.@ Pp 15-23 in Sandell, S.H. (Ed) The Problem Isn=t Age. New York: Praeger.

McConnell, S. R. "Age Discrimination in Employment," in Parnes, H. S. Policy Issues in Work and Retirement.

.G *Knowles, Daniel E., "Keeping Older Workers on the Job" in Parnes, H. S. Policy Issues in Work & Retirement.

3/15/01 The Retirement Decision

. Flippen, C. and M. Tienda. 2000 APathways to Retirement: Patterns of Labor Force Participation and Labor Market Exit Among the Pre-Retirement Poulation by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Sex.@ Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences: 55B (1): S14-S17 (Note: not entire article for undergrads. You may continue to read it if you wish)

Eckert, D J. and S. DeViney "On Defining Persons as Retired." Journal of Aging Studies

G Mutchler, J.E., J.A. Burr, A.M. Pienta, and M.P. Massagli 1997. APathways to Labor Force Exit: Work Transitions and Work Instability@ Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences. 52B(1):S4-S12.

3/22/01 No Class--Spring Break

3/29/01 Exam #1

4/5/01 Diversity in Employment/Retirement:

Szinovacz, M "Introduction: Research on Women's Retirement" in Szinovacz Women's Retirement, Beverly Hills: Sage, 1982.

Gibson, Rose. 1993. AThe Black American Retirement Experience.@ in Jackson, J.J., L. Chatters, and R.J. Taylor (Eds) Aging in Black America. Sage.

G Complete the Flippen and Tienda article listed above

4/12/01 Adaptation to Retirement

. Vinick, B.H. and D.J. Ekerdt "Couples View Retirement Activities: Expectations versus Experience." in Ekerdt and Szinovacz Families and Retirement

Ekerdt, David J. 19 XX AThe Busy Ethic:Moral Continuity Between Work and Retirement.@

 4/19/01 Social Security I: Fundamentals Moody, Harry R. AWhat Is the Future for Social Security?@ Pp 255-292 in ## 4/26/01 Social Security II. Current Issues and Debates

Eschtruth, Andrew D. 2000. ASocial Security and the Federal Budget.@ On Retirement Issues: 2:1-4. (Center for Retirement Research :Boston College)

Rix, Sara E. and John B. Williamson. 1998 ASocial Security Reform: How Might Women Fare?@ Policy paper downloaded from www.aarp.org.

 . G. O'Grady-LeShane, R. and J. Williamson "Family Provisions in Old-Age Pensions." in Ekerdt and Szinovacz Families and Retirement.

G Williamson, John B. 2000 ASocial Security Privatization: Lessons from the United Kingdon.@ Unpublished report (Center for Retirement Research: Boston College)

5/3/01 Private Pensions

Burnes, Kathy and James Schulz 2000 AOlder Women and Private Pensions in the United States.@ (Pgs 1-36) Waltham, MA: National Center on Women & Aging.

G. *Clark, R.L. and A.A. McDermed "Pension Wealth and Job Changes: The Effects of Vesting, Portability and Lump-Sum Distributions." The Gerontologist 28(4):524-532, 1988.

5/10/01 Trends/Options for Later Life Work/Retirement

Barth, Michael C. 2000 AAn Aging Workforce in an Increasingly Global World.@ Pp 83-88 in Caro, Morris and Norton (Eds) Advancing Aging Policy as the 21st Century Begins. New York: Haworth

Best, F. "Flexible Life Scheduling: Does the Idea Have a Future?" Unpublished paper, 1989.

Henretta, John C. 2000 AThe Future of Age Integration in Employment.@ The Gerontologist. 40(3): 286-292.