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The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany

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  • Maria Evandrou
  • Jane Falkingham
  • Tom Sefton

Abstract

Using data from several large scale longitudinal surveys, this paper investigates the relationship between older women's personal incomes and their work histories in the UK, US and West Germany. By comparing three countries with very different welfare regimes, we seek to gain a better understanding of the interaction between the life course, pension system and women's incomes in later life. The association between older women's incomes and work histories is strongest in West Germany and weakest in the UK, where there is evidence of a pensions' poverty trap and where only predominantly full-time employment is associated with significantly higher incomes in later life, after controlling for other socio-economic characteristics. Work history matters less for widows (in all three countries) and more for younger birth cohorts and more educated women (UK only). We conclude with a brief discussion of the 'women-friendliness' of different pension regimes in the light of our analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Evandrou & Jane Falkingham & Tom Sefton, 2009. "The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," CASE Papers case137, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
  • Handle: RePEc:cep:sticas:case137
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    File URL: https://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cp/CASEpaper137.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffrey B. Liebman, 2002. "Redistribution in the Current U.S. Social Security System," NBER Chapters, in: The Distributional Aspects of Social Security and Social Security Reform, pages 11-48, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Timothy M. Smeeding & Susanna Sandstrom, 2004. "Poverty and Income Maintenance in Old Age: A Cross-National View of Low Income Older Women," Working Papers, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College wp2004-29, Center for Retirement Research, revised Nov 2004.
    3. Robert L. Brown & Steven G. Prus, 2003. "Social Transfers and Income Inequality in Old-age: A Multi-national Perspective," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 109, McMaster University.
    4. Timothy Smeeding & James Williamson, 2001. "Income Maintenance in Old Age: What Can be Learned from Cross-National Comparisons," LIS Working papers 263, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    5. Robert Brown & Steven Prus, 2003. "Social Transfers and Income Inequality in Old-age: A Multi-national Perspective?," LIS Working papers 355, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    6. Elena Bardasi & Stephen P. Jenkins, 2010. "The Gender Gap In Private Pensions," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(4), pages 343-363, October.
    7. Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Sefton, Tom, 2009. "Women's family histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28242, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Christina Behrendt, 1999. "Private Pensions - A Viable Alternative? Distributive Effects of Private Pensions in a Comparative Perspective," LIS Working papers 220, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
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    Cited by:

    1. Scherger, Simone & Hagemann, Steffen & Hokema, Anna & Lux, Thomas, 2012. "Between privilege and burden: Work past retirement age in Germany and the UK," Working papers of the ZeS 04/2012, University of Bremen, Centre for Social Policy Research (ZeS).
    2. Maria Evandrou & Jane Falkingham & Tom Sefton, 2009. "Women’s family histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," CASE Papers case138, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    3. Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Sefton, Tom, 2009. "Women's family histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 43864, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Evandrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Sefton, Tom, 2009. "Women's family histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 28242, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    comparative; older women; pensions; work history; life course;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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