Late Career Risks in Changing Welfare States : Comparing Germany and the United States since the 1980s Motivated by ongoing debates over welfare state retrenchment and growing economic insecurity this book compares the situation of older workers in Germany and the United States over the past three decades. Both nations are seeing a rise in insecurity for older workers but the differences in support programs pensions and retirement options have led to differing outcomes for workers faced with early retirement or job loss.