We investigate how labour market and pension measures associated with active ageing influence retirement behaviour in Austria and Germany. We focus on two conservative welfare states and evaluate how individuals respond to comparable pension scheme changes. Using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, findings point to increasing average actual retirement ages in both countries. Early retirement becomes less important while working until pension age has gained in significance. In particular, findings point towards greater de-standardisation of retirement transitions, though to a different extent across the two countries. Whereas gender differences are still prevalent in Austria, in line with traditional conservative welfare state characteristics, we find that Germany exhibits lower gender differences, but instead displays stronger inequalities between education groups. We argue that social risks emerge in Germany that are usually found in liberal welfare states. We suggest that this trend is reinforced by retirement policies that focus on “pushing” individuals out of employment. This study contributes to the understanding of how individuals respond to national policy incentives when making retirement transitions.

Zusammenfassung Zum Abbau von Ineffizienzen im deutschen Gesundheitssystem wurden Institutionen wieder eingeführt, welche in ähnlicher Form bereits im Gesundheitssystem der DDR existiert haben. Drei Beispiele wurden ausgewählt: Die heutigen Medizinischen Versorgungszentren ähneln den Polikliniken der DDR, die Disease-Management-Programme sind mit der Dispensaire-Versorgung der DDR vergleichbar und die Bereiche Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung gab es in der DDR in Form der Gesundheitserziehung. Diese heutigen Institutionen werden dahingehend untersucht, inwiefern sie dazu beitragen, Ineffizienzen abzubauen und vor dem Hintergrund der Ökonomisierung im deutschen Gesundheitswesen zur Steigerung des Patientenwohls beitragen. Dabei wird betrachtet, wie sie hinsichtlich der Dimensionen Gewinnmaximierung, Wettbewerb, Preisbildung und Kundensouveränität wirken. Abstract: Liquidated Healthcare Institutions as (Quasi-)innovations To reduce inefficiencies in the German health care system, institutions have been reintroduced that have already existed in a similar form in the health care system of the GDR. Three examples have been selected: Today’s medical care centers (MVZ) are similar to the GDR’s so called „Polikliniken“, the disease management programs are comparable to the GDR’s dispensaire care, and the prevention and health promotion today were called health education („Gesundheitserziehung“) in the GDR. These institutions are being examined to what extent they serve to reduce inefficiencies and, regarding the economization in the German healthcare system, contribute to increasing patient well-being. In detail, this analysis uses the dimensions of profit maximization, competition, pricing and consumer sovereignty.

This paper is concerned with the question, how individuals behave during periods of institutional re-designs in welfare states. To understand behaviour after an institutional path modification, this article collects evidence on employment characteristics after the German reunification. East German women show to experience care activities for the first time later compared to West German women. Younger cohorts stay in care activities for a shorter period of time. Developments imply, that preferences have changed for women from both regions, proposing new forms of female employment standardisation in today’s Germany. At the same time, divergences from male employment characteristics are evident, implying rising gender inequality. Individual behaviour seems to be adaptive to new social processes proposed by institutions despite of former cultural beliefs.

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