Archive: Robert K. Triest

Navajo man sitting on the bed of his pick-up truck in Monument Valley

Introduction The difference in labor force participation rates of men aged 55-64 across the United States is astounding.  For example, West Virginia has a participation rate below 60 percent, while South Dakota has a participation rate approaching 90 percent (see Figure 1).  This fact in itself has significant implications for the pressures that states w…

African woman showing her dish

Abstract Economic conditions and labor force participation vary significantly across the states of the Union.  Despite these marked differences, little is known about the reasons for such variations in retirement patterns.  Using the Current Population Survey for the period 1977-2007, this paper demonstrates that the differences in the labor force participation of men age 55-64…