I could support raising retirement age in theory. Retirement age was partially based on average life expectancy. People on average live longer and stay healthier than before. That said- the first caveat would be that if we were to do that we would REALLY have to ensure there was a such thing as retirement like their used to be- pensions and the like. Second would be that we need a way to avoid “stacking” in the work force.
What I mean is that younger employees often can’t move up in their careers because older employees aren’t retiring like they used to. That doesn’t just impact the ability of younger employees to increase their earnings earlier in life, but it also effects their ability to gain experience in higher job levels. A Director or higher manager staring in their 30’s or 40’s is going to have more experience than one who can’t move into middle management until their 40’s and is kept from higher management until they are over 50. By the age you’re expected to be established- not fresh to the job.
First of all, go and tell that opinion to a 60 year-old carpenter, steelworker, or any other physically challenging job. Those guys literaly are wrecking their bodies for a minimum pension in the end and I don't see how 69 year old guys should be doing such jobs.
Secondly, the system doesn't work anymore, because
a) our government has payed the reunification of Germany from our retirement money and wasn't able to balance it due to the two following financial crisises.
b) loads of people have jobs that pay so badly that their pension will not be sufficient to survive no matter how long they'll be working and
c) because the current form of capitalism has shifted trillions towards the rich, who then do their utmost to evade taxes.
To be fair: 1. That’s a sticky one. I can’t imagine doing physically demanding labor into ones 50’s. Most people I know in such fields tended to move into management or training roles as they got older, or expanded their knowledge as they worked to transition into less demanding specialist work. But there are life long tradesfolk and I think that’s hard. I think that “retirement age” should perhaps be contextual to the industry sector right? As you say- it’s easier to push a desk for 70 years than break rocks all day. That’s why I said it would have to be well thought out and structured.
To your second points- I did also say that I could only support something like that if there were an actual pension or retirement package and “safety net” in place. Not just a forced age but an actual way for people to retire and love a decent life for the rest of their days. That said- I wasn’t very clear. When I said “we” I meant I’d support something like that here in America- but I can see that is very subtle- many people may not be aware I am in America, and the topic was about Germany so it makes sense that my musings might seem directed as such.
I don’t know enough about the German socioeconomic system to really comment specifically on it- and not living in Germany it certainly isn’t my place to try and tell Germans what to do in their country. I am interested to hear more on the subject as well as your opinions if you care to share.
They did that already. Doing the second step to 69 is just their way of saying "We did understand that our problems are coming from tax fraud and corruption, but it is easier to keep everybody working longer, than to rethink our taxation system to make it work equally for everybody."
Secondly, the system doesn't work anymore, because
a) our government has payed the reunification of Germany from our retirement money and wasn't able to balance it due to the two following financial crisises.
b) loads of people have jobs that pay so badly that their pension will not be sufficient to survive no matter how long they'll be working and
c) because the current form of capitalism has shifted trillions towards the rich, who then do their utmost to evade taxes.