includes measures of race and age at baseline. Model 2 adds covariates to estimate the

effects of time and education. Model 3, the base model, adds measures of baseline health

in order to estimate the effects of physical and subjective health on labor force exit

behavior, and to explore whether health intervenes in the race-labor force behavior exit

relationship. Model 4 adds measures of work characteristics to the base model in order to

explore the impact of work variables on retirement and their role in the race-retirement

relationship. Model 5 adds measures of prior single parenthood experiences to the base

model in order to explore whether earlier family circumstances impact subsequent labor

force behaviors and their role in the race-retirement relationship. Single parenting and

current family circumstances are added to the base model in order to explore the direct

effects of family characteristics, as well as the direct and indirect effects of earlier single

parenting circumstances and race on labor force exit behavior (Model 6). Next, economic

measures are added to the base model (Model 7). Model 8 is the fully specified model.

 Retirement behavior among African American and White women

 Risk ratios of retirement presented in Table 4 indicate that African American are

less likely than White women to retire (Models 1-4). As hypothesized, familial and

economic factors over the life course intervene in the race-retirement relationship. For

instance, controlling for prior single parenting circumstances (Model 5) and current

family circumstances (Model 6) eliminates racial disparities in retirement. Similarly, once

measures of economic security are included in the model, African American and White

women appear to have similar rates of retirement (Model 7).

 Analyses presented in Table 4 reveal a number of other important predictors of

retirement behavior. Whereas older women, self-employed women, and women with

greater pension wealth, non-housing assets, or net value of primary residence are more