A Review of Research on Delayed Retirement Policies and the

Protection of Elderly Rights and Interests

Haoyang Liu

School of Public Management, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510642, China

Keywords: Delayed Retirement Policy, Population Aging, Pension Sustainability, Gradual Reform.

Abstract: China's rapidly aging population and growing pension sustainability pressures have necessitated the

implementation of a delayed retirement policy. This study systematically reviews existing research on the

policy's design, societal impacts, and international benchmarks, focusing on its implications for elderly rights

and labor market dynamics. Key findings reveal that a gradual, flexible approach to retirement age reform—

emphasizing phased adjustments, differentiated implementation, and public consensus-building—effectively

mitigates resistance while enhancing policy coherence. International comparisons highlight the importance of

tailored policy bundles, such as pension-employment linkage mechanisms, though challenges persist in

balancing intergenerational equity and regional disparities. Domestically, studies underscore the need for

synergistic optimization of pension and labor systems, alongside robust monitoring of public sentiment. The

research concludes that while delayed retirement can alleviate fiscal pressures and optimize workforce

allocation, its success hinges on context-specific adaptations, equitable design, and complementary social

policies to address heterogeneous im-pacts across demographics.

1 INTRODUCTION

China's decision to implement a delayed retirement

policy is an inevitable choice in response to the

accelerated aging of the population, pressure on the

sustainability of pensions, and the transformation of

the labor force structure. The issue of an aging

population in China is becoming increasingly serious.

As Figure 1 shows, for all previous national

population censuses, national 1% population

sampling surveys and population age structure in

recent years (Zhang, Zhang, 2025). As China’s

population aged 60 and above surpasses 21% and

average life expectancy climbs to 78.6 years, the

current retirement age has become increasingly

incompatible with the extended lifespan of the

population (National Health Commission of the

People’s Republic of China, 2023). This

misalignment has intensified fiscal pressures on the

pension insurance system, causing a persistent

imbalance between its revenue and expenditures. In

2023, China’s basic pension insurance system

covered 106.643 million participants, with the fund

recording an annual income of 7,669.1 billion yuan

against expenditures of 6,836.9 billion yuan. The

burden of pension is relatively heavy (Ministry of

Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s

Republic of China, 2024). At the same time, there are

734.39 million employed people nationwide, and the

proportion of the young labor force shows a trend of

first increasing and then decreasing. Policy

adjustments have become a key measure to alleviate

employment pressure and optimize the allocation of

labor resources National Bureau (Statistics, 2024; Xu,

Lv, 2021; Development Research Center of the State

Council, 2022).

China has been deeply studying the specific reform

plan for postponing the statutory retirement age. The

11th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th

National People's Congress officially approved a

resolution to gradually implement the postponement

of the statutory retirement age. The delayed

retirement policy will be implemented through a

flexible, step-by-step approach. Starting from

January 1, 2025, the retirement age will be gradually

extended. The proposed plan aims to gradually raise

the retirement age to 63 for men and 55-58 for women

over a 15-year implementation period, while

introducing flexible retirement arrangements through

employer-employee negotiations. Supporting

measures include extending the minimum payment

period

for social security to 20 years, strengthening

Liu, H.

A Review of Research on Delayed Retirement Policies and the Protection of Elderly Rights and Interests.

DOI: 10.5220/0014372900004859

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Politics, Law, and Social Science (ICPLSS 2025), pages 257-262

ISBN: 978-989-758-785-6

257

Figure 1: Previous national censuses, national 1% population sampling survey and population age structure in recent years

(Zhang, Zhang, 2025)

the incentive mechanism of "more payment, more

reward", and synchronously promoting the

development of supplementary pension insurance

such as enterprise annuity and occupational annuity

(Chinese government website, 2024). However,

policies also face issues such as the risks to workers'

psychosocial and physiological well-being, the

crowding out effect of youth employment, and other

supporting measures such as vocational training and

employment security to balance the interests of

different groups and ensure the smooth

implementation of reforms (Fan, Feng, 2015).

The significance of studying the delayed

retirement policy is that, with the aggravation of

China's aging population and the change of labor

force structure, the traditional retirement system has

been unable to meet the needs of social and economic

development. This article aims to conduct a

comprehensive analysis of the background,

implementation path, and potential social impacts of

the delayed retirement policy. This study will

systematically review and analyze existing literature,

fill in the existing research gaps, provide direction for

subsequent research, and provide scientific basis for

policy formulation and implementation.

2 RESEARCH METHODS AND

PROCESSES

In the CNKI database, a total of 1476 relevant

literature were retrieved using the keyword "delayed

retirement policy". The scope was limited to

academic journals, reducing the number of

documents to 935. Subsequently, the retrieved

literature was excluded, and non-core literature with

low research value was screened out. On this basis,

by further searching for literature on keywords such

as "research on delayed retirement policies",

"Safeguarding elderly rights and welfare ", and

"aging", eleven academically valuable articles were

finally selected. Literature searches were conducted

on the Wiley Online Library and Web of Science

platforms, focusing on core articles related to

keywords such as "delayed retirement policy" and

"aging." After reviewing and summarizing the

relevant literature, the author ultimately selected three

articles as references.

3 RESULT

3.1 Domestic Research

3.1.1 Progressive Governance and Analysis

of Public Attitudes

Researchers represented by Liu Cong and Sun

Yongjian believe that the progressive governance

concept plays an important role in the reform of

delaying retirement age (Liu, 2025; Sun, 2025). Liu

Cong's research focuses on the theory of progressive

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governance and delves into the policy mechanism of

delaying retirement age reform. This study constructs

a policy analysis framework that includes key

dimensions such as small-step adjustment, flexible

implementation, classified promotion, and overall

consideration, reflecting the important role of the

progressive governance concept in reform. Liu Cong

believes that this concept is helpful in steadily

advancing reforms in complex interest patterns,

resolving obstacles, building consensus, and

improving the pertinence, coordination, and

sustainability of reforms. Sun Yongjian's research

starts from the perspective of online public opinion,

using Python data mining and NLP sentiment analysis

tools. This paper analyzes the public's attitude and

opinions on the delayed retirement policy on Weibo

and TikTok platforms. The study found that the

public's evaluation of the delayed retirement policy is

generally positive and neutral, indicating that the

progressive governance concept has gained a certain

degree of recognition among the public.

The progressive governance concept has

demonstrated significant advantages in the delayed

retirement reform, but also faces many practical

challenges. This governance model, through a phased

and step-by-step implementation approach, can

effectively resolve resistance to reform. It can also

consolidate social consensus through negotiation and

dialogue, thereby enhancing the pertinence,

coordination, and sustainability of policy measures,

while providing flexibility for policy implementation

and promoting public participation. However, the

implementation process needs to address multiple

challenges, especially how to establish a mechanism

for balancing interests among multiple stakeholders

such as government, enterprises, and workers, ensure

the fairness and reasonableness of policy adjustments,

and establish a dynamic monitoring mechanism to

timely respond to changes in public attitudes. These

challenges highlight the need to establish a scientific

evaluation and dynamic optimization mechanism

while adhering to a gradual reform path, in order to

ensure the smooth progress and expected results of

the reform.

3.1.2 International Comparison and Policy

Reference

Researchers represented by Zhang Su, Zhang Hui,

Man Xiaoou, and Zhang Yijia believe that

international comparison and policy reference are of

great significance for the formulation of China's

delayed retirement policy (Zhang, Zhang, 2025; Man,

Zhang, 2023). Zhang Su and Zhang Hui's research

analyzed the experience and lessons of developed

countries in delaying retirement policies from an

international comparative perspective. Research

suggests that developed countries have certain

reference significance in exploring the optimal

retirement age, studying the factors affecting the

willingness to delay retirement, implementing

supporting measures in the labor market, and

coordinating reforms in the pension system. The

study also identified challenges faced by China in

implementing delayed retirement policies, such as

employment issues for young workers, increasing

income inequality, and deteriorating health

conditions for elderly workers. The research of Zhang

Su and Zhang Hui provides an international

experience reference for China's delayed retirement

policy. Man Xiaoou and Zhang Yijia employed the

fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)

in their research to analyze the age effect of delayed

retirement policy combinations in Organization for

Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

countries. Research has found that high age

constraints-low pension contributions, low pension

contributions - high employment security, low age

constraints-high employment security, and low age

constraints - low pension contributions are four

effective paths. This study suggests that China should

pay attention to the combination of policies when

formulating delayed retirement policies, and form a

gradual and flexible delayed retirement policy

system.

3.1.3 Collaborative Optimization of Pension

System and Labor Employment

System

Researchers represented by Lin Xi, Jin Gang, Song

Jingxiang, and Zhang Jiwen believe that the

coordinated optimization of the pension system and

labor employment system is the core goal of the

delayed retirement policy (Lin, 2024; Jin, Song,

Zhang, 2023). Lin Xi's research, from the

perspectives of pension system and labor

employment system, argues that the fundamental

objective of delayed retirement policies is to facilitate

the reconfiguration of workers' life courses. Lin Xi

believes that the traditional policy of delaying

retirement is no longer suitable for China's actual

situation, and should break out of the existing policy

thinking pattern and seek new policy design

breakthroughs. This study proposes to replace

delayed pension collection with a fair and clear

pension system design, and to replace the

solidification and continuation of professional careers

A Review of Research on Delayed Retirement Policies and the Protection of Elderly Rights and Interests

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with diversified employment for the elderly,

promoting the coordinated optimization of the

pension system and labor employment system. Jin

Gang, Song Jingxiang, and Zhang Jiwen's research

analyzed the differences between China's statutory

retirement age regulations and OECD countries from

an international perspective. Their study proposes

that delayed retirement policies could strategically

maintain a moderate gender gap in retirement ages as

a key reform lever. They recommend implementing

flexible retirement mechanisms—including early,

delayed, and category-based retirement options—

while underscoring that supporting policy designs

must safeguard workers' rights, reduce effective

working hours, and mitigate occupational burdens.

3.1.4 Policy Economic Effects and Social

Impact

Researchers represented by Tian Song, Zhang

Liqiong, Yang Liangchu, Li Guiping, and Lu Nana

believe that the economic and social effects of

delayed retirement policies need to be

comprehensively evaluated (Tian, Zhang, 2022;

Yang, Li, 2021). Tian Song and Zhang Liqiong's re-

search explored the economic effects of the policy of

delaying retirement age, mainly from four aspects:

pension revenue and expenditure effects,

employment effects, income redistribution effects,

and economic growth effects. Research has shown

that the pension income and expenditure effects of

delayed retirement policies are effective, but there

may be crowding-out effects on employment,

worsening income redistribution effects, and positive

economic growth effects. Yang Liangchu, Li

Guiping, and Lu Nana's study systematically

examined the societal implications of delayed

retirement policies through a social policy lens. Their

findings indicate that effective implementation

necessitates reinforced policy guidance, an optimized

social environment, and improved coordination of

interests among stakeholders, including government

entities, enterprises, and employees. Importantly, the

research highlights that the legal codification of such

policies demands a delicate equilibrium between

evidence-based rationale and humanistic

considerations to foster broader consensus and ensure

policy efficacy.

3.2 Research on Delayed Retirement

Policies in Foreign Literature

The research conducted by researchers such as

Michael Baker, Zhang Linlin, Wu Y, Rafael Lalive

on delayed retirement policies focuses on policy

incentive effects, determination of optimal retirement

age, and the impact of social security reform on

retirement behavior. This provides the important

theoretical basis and practical reference for policy-

making (Baker, Gruber, Miligan, 2024; Zhang, Gu,

An, 2023; Wu, Xu, Yi, 2022). The study by Michael

Baker and other researchers is about the impact of

Canada's income security plan on retirement

incentives. They found that these plans incentivize

some workers to retire early by providing economic

support, and pointed out that incentive structures in

policy design can affect labor market participation

rates. Zhang et al. focused on the optimal delayed

retirement age in the context of China's aging

population, and determined the optimal range of

delayed retirement age through model analysis. They

emphasized that policy implementation needs to

consider the health status and employment ability of

elderly workers. Researchers such as Wu explored the

optimal choice of China's delayed retirement policy

through economic models and pointed out that a

moderate delayed retirement policy can alleviate

pension pressure. It is suggested that policy

formulation should be gradually promoted and

accompanied by social security measures Rafael

Lalive and other researchers studied the impact of

social security reform on retirement and pension

application behavior, and found that reform measures

significantly affect individual retirement decisions.

They emphasized that policy design needs to consider

the differences among different groups.

4 DISCUSSION

The implementation of delayed retirement schemes

has gained significant traction among re-searchers

and policymakers as a crucial response to

demographic aging trends. Existing re-search has

made significant progress in progressive governance

and public attitude analysis, international comparison

and policy reference, synergistic optimization of

pension system and labor employment system, policy

economic effects and social impact, as well as

relevant studies in foreign literature. Researchers

represented by Liu Cong, Sun Yongjian, Zhang Su,

Zhang Hui, Lin Xi, Tian Song, etc. have provided rich

theoretical and practical references for The

formulation and implementation of delayed

retirement policies require a dual focus on domestic

policy mechanism development and international

best practice reference, institutional synergy

optimization, and economic and social effects. The

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concept of progressive governance has provided

important support for the steady advancement of

policies, and international comparative research has

provided valuable experience for China's policy

design.

However, there are still some shortcomings in

existing research. Firstly, some studies overly focus

on the construction of theoretical frameworks, while

lacking in-depth empirical analysis and evaluation of

the actual effects of policy implementation. Secondly,

existing international comparative studies often fail to

fully consider the differences between China's

national conditions and those of other countries,

resulting in significant adaptability and feasibility

challenges for the policy measures borrowed when

implemented in China. Again, current studies lack

detailed roadmaps and complementary policies for

aligning pension reforms with employment system

adjustments. Finally, research on the economic and

social effects of policies lacks in-depth exploration of

individual-level impacts. Future research should

further strengthen empirical analysis of policy

implementation effects, especially the differentiated

impacts in different regions and groups. At the same

time, combined with China's specific national

conditions, more targeted policy designs should be

explored to ensure the fairness and sustainability of

the delayed retirement policy. Research should also

pay attention to the balance of interests between

elderly and young workers, and avoid

intergenerational conflicts that may arise during

policy implementation.

5 CONCLUSION

The delayed retirement policy, as a strategic

intervention to mitigate demographic aging pressures,

alleviate pension payment pressure, and optimize

labor resource allocation, has sparked widespread

discussion in recent years. Through a systematic

review of existing literature, this study summarizes

the research status and main achievements of the

delayed retirement policy from five aspects:

progressive governance and public attitude analysis,

international comparison and policy reference,

coordinated optimization of pension system and labor

employment system, policy economic effects and

social impact, and relevant research in foreign

literature. These studies provide rich theoretical basis

and practical references for policy formulation and

implementation.

Firstly, the proposal of the progressive governance

concept provides important support for the steady

implementation of the delayed retirement policy.

Progressive governance not only helps to resolve

resistance to reform, but also enhances policy

flexibility and public participation. Secondly, cross-

national policy comparisons offer critical insights for

shaping China's delayed retirement framework.

Drawing on the policy practices of other countries,

policy recommendations that are more suitable for

China's national conditions can be proposed, such as

the design of policy matching combinations and

flexible retirement mechanisms. In addition, the

collaborative optimization research of pension

system and labor employment system pro-vides new

ideas for setting the goals of delayed retirement

policy. The research highlights the dual imperatives

of equitable pension provisions and adaptable

employment frameworks, providing a theoretical

basis for policy design. Finally, the study of policy

economic effects and social impacts provides a

multidimensional analytical framework for the

comprehensive evaluation of delayed retirement

policies. The study starts from both economic and

social effects, revealing the potential impact of

policies and providing reference for policy

optimization.

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