While there is considerable evidence of a trend toward earlier retirement in the
United States and Europe, trends in rapidly growing economies in other parts of the world
have not been closely examined. This paper traces the labor force participation rates of older
men and women in four Asian countries, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand,
over the period of 1970 to 1990. Aggregate census data are used to calculate net transitions
into and out of the labor force so as to permit the analysis of differences by country and cohort
as well as change over time. Results show that, although men exhibit a general trend toward
earlier net labor force exit, labor force participation rates at older ages remain high. Older
women are found to be increasingly engaged in economic activity, especially in Singapore
and Taiwan.