Professors Are Too Old
The elimination of mandatory retirement has led to a surge in older professors holding onto their positions, stifling opportunities for younger scholars and innovation in academia. The median age of college and professional-school teachers has exceeded that of other aging professions like doctors and lawyers.
The university is no exception to the trend of gerontocracy, where seniority is used to allocate positions or resources. Faculty members benefit from age-related privileges, holding onto higher-paying posts while blocking opportunities for younger scholars. The elimination of mandatory retirement in 1986 converged with the great aging of the population, leading to a surge in older professors. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of faculty over 65 doubled. The arts-and-sciences faculty at Harvard University had more tenured faculty over 60 than under 50 during this period. Yale Law School's faculty was also transformed by the elimination of retirement coupled with the extension of lifespans.
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