Pensioned Off

* How did retirement and ways of funding it emerge?* What are the key issues in relation to retirement and pensions today?* What are the key issues likely to be in the future?With a fifth of the United Kingdom's population retired, and everyone expecting lengthy retirement, the question of what constitutes retirement, how it is perceived and, critically, how it is funded, is of single importance to all. Clearly and concisely, Pensioned Off describes how the relatively modern phenomenon of 'retirement' emerged so quickly and dramatically, how those in retirement today support themselves financially, and how retirement and pensions are viewed as cultural traits of our society. It looks at the form and value of pensions today - both state and private - and then looks ahead to what might happen, for better or worse, in the future. Pensioned Off is recommended reading for students and professionals on social work courses which focus on later life. It will also be of interest to a wide range of practitioners working with older people. Key features:* Comprehensive approach: retirement and pensions seen in cultural and social, as well as economic context* Lively and accessible coverage of an often obfuscated subject* Up-to-date material, with almost all data from the 1990s* Eric Midwinter is the author of several best-selling texts