Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Drawing on previous research from the United States Congress, this is explored in a new empirical setting: local government in Denmark. The results show that positions at the labour market matter as private-sector employees are more likely to retire than public-sector employees. Furthermore, internal institutional factors matter. Holding an institutional position such as chairing a committee makes retirement less likely. Furthermore, seniority makes the councillors more likely to retire when age is controlled for - a result not found in national studies. However, councillors who reach a high-ranking position at an early stage are not more likely to quit with seniority than those who do not reach such a position. A high personal share of votes decreases voluntary retirement. In contrast to previous findings, the ideological distance from the ruling party does not play a role. This may be due to norms of consensus in the local councils.

Corrected by: Erratum in Scandinavian Political Studies, 34(1):98-99 Early view 11. februar 2011 Erratum