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Dynamic models of labour force retirement: an empirical analysis of early exit in
the Netherlands
Heyma, A.O.J.
Publication date
2001
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Heyma, A. O. J. (2001). Dynamic models of labour force retirement: an empirical analysis of
early exit in the Netherlands. Universiteit van Amsterdam.
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A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s s
Duringg my last year as an undergraduate at the University of Amsterdam, I
discov-eredd that I was still very young, began just to understand the world of econometrics,
andd really enjoyed doing empirical research. The idea of becoming a graduate
stu-dentt no longer appeared to be a remote fantasy. I scouted a number of positions
alll over the Netherlands, but once I had spoken to the people at Leiden University,
II knew that I was going to be a labour economist, studying the economic
conse-quencess of ageing. Not only would I be able to study a topic that had great public
andd political relevance, but I would also have no shortage of the food that I needed
forr my scientific hunger: data. The research at the Centre for Economic Research
onn Retirement and Ageing
(CERRA),proved to be ideal for someone who has just
discoveredd that empirical research can be exiting, challenging and rewarding. I have
veryy good memories of the four years that followed; the graduate courses that I
fol-lowedd at the Tinbergen Institute and within the NAKE network, the discussions
aboutt the retirement literature with my colleagues, the conferences that I was able
too visit abroad, presenting my first research results, and my instructive visit to Yale
University. .
Myy enthusiasm made me opportunistic, and after four years I started to work as
aa researcher for the TNO Institute for Traffic and Transport, Logistics and Spatial
Developmentt (Inro), expecting to finish this thesis in my spare time. But during
thee next four years, I discovered that it is easier to write a thesis than to finish one.
Evenn though these years have not been easy, I never lost interest in my retirement
researchh or had any doubt about ever finishing this thesis. The fun of it together
withh my determination and the support of many people, have brought me where I
amm now: writing these acknowledgements. Of all these people I can only mention
aa few, not forgetting the others.
Att the first meeting with my two supervisors, they had put their feet on the
tablee and wiggled with their chair, while talking enthusiastically about 'their new
bigg project'. That image is characteristic for the supervision and support of Jules
Theeuwess and Maarten Lindeboom, who provided me with more information than
II could possibly handle, showing that academic research is not as serious as I was
originallyy afraid of. Without their expert reviews of my work by, especially by
VI I
M a a r t e n ,, this thesis would not have been any good.
Duringg the four years in Leiden, I have shared more time with Vincent T h i o t h a nn with anyone else. Together we travelled from A m s t e r d a m to Leiden, occupied thee s a m e room at t h e University, followed the same g r a d u a t e courses, even visited thee s a m e friends and played basketball at the same field. He has been the most i m p o r t a n tt m o t i v a t o r , s u p p o r t e r and source of inspiration for my research, and I owe h i mm more t h a n I can express here.
T h ee m e m b e r s of my scientific committee had probably already given up on me ass an academic, when I asked them t o be part of the c o m m i t t e e after all. I would likee t o thank G e r a r d van den Berg, J o o p Hartog, Philip de J o n g , J o h n Rust and Coenn Teulings for their quick response and valuable c o m m e n t s . I also would like to t h a n kk J o h n Rust for his hospitality a n d support during my visit to Yale University. Hee provided me with t h e confidence t o continue in the direction where I was going. Fromm my colleagues and fellow graduate students at Leiden University I learned aa lot a b o u t economics, b u t most of all I learned to p u t economics into perspective. G o o dd financial s u p p o r t is a necessary condition for g r a d u a t e research, particularly whenn it lasts for eight years. I would like to t h a n k N E S T O R and Leiden University forr providing the necessary funds to s t a r t this research, and T N O Inro for allowing m ee to devote part of their t i m e and resources to this thesis.
Cypriann S m i t s a n d Dennis Dannenburg have guided and motivated me through m yy academic career. Julian and Ingrid Archer have been so kind to do a quick scann of my English writing subject to a very tight deadline. Their incredible effort hass been of great help. All remaining errors are of course mine. Tanja Kuijper, E s t h e rr Beumer, R u t h Visser, Rein Venmans, Marlin Wagemaker, my brother and m yy father have s u p p o r t e d m e at times that I needed it most. But then again, they aree always there for m e . But my best supporter and fan has been my m o t h e r , who celebratess - together with Frans - all my small successes as if they were her own, a n dd they p r o b a b l y are. If I have finished my thesis for anyone but myself, it has beenn for her.
Geertjee has been a witness of my struggle for only a relatively short t i m e , but longg enough to be infected by the research virus herself. I hope t h a t I can support herr with the s a m e joy as she has motivated me. After all, she is my unintended choicee to live my life extended.
