<P> Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions no longer allow the person to work any longer (by illness or accident) or as a result of legislation concerning their position . In most countries, the idea of retirement is of recent origin, being introduced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries . Previously, low life expectancy and the absence of pension arrangements meant that most workers continued to work until death . Germany was the first country to introduce retirement, in 1889 . </P> <P> Nowadays, most developed countries have systems to provide pensions on retirement in old age, which may be sponsored by employers or the state . In many poorer countries, support for the old is still mainly provided through the family . Today, retirement with a pension is considered a right of the worker in many societies, and hard ideological, social, cultural and political battles have been fought over whether this is a right . In many western countries this right is mentioned in national constitutions . </P> <P> Retirement, or the practice of leaving one's job or ceasing to work after reaching a certain age, has been around since around the 18th century . Prior to the 18th century, the average life expectancy of people was between 26 and 40 years . Due to this, only a small percentage of the population were reaching an age where physical impairments began to be obstacles to working . Retirement as a government policy began to be adopted by countries during the late 19th century and the 20th century, beginning in Germany under Otto Von Bismarck . </P> <P> A person may retire at whatever age they please . However, a country's tax laws or state old - age pension rules usually mean that in a given country a certain age is thought of as the "standard" retirement age . </P>

Where did the idea of retirement come from