TY - JOUR T1 - Back to Work JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour SP - 718 LP - 748 DO - 10.3368/jhr.45.3.718 VL - 45 IS - 3 AU - Nicole Maestas Y1 - 2010/07/01 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/45/3/718.abstract N2 - This paper analyzes a puzzling aspect of retirement behavior known as “unretirement.” Nearly 50 percent of retirees follow a nontraditional retirement path that involves partial retirement or unretirement, and at least 26 percent of retirees later unretire. I explore two possible explanations: (1) unretirement transitions result from failures in planning or financial shocks; and (2) unretirement transitions are anticipated prior to retirement, reflecting a more complex retirement process. I show that unretirement was anticipated for the vast majority of those returning to work, and is not a result of financial shocks, poor planning or low wealth accumulation. ER -