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Socioeconomic inequality in the use of long-term care for the elderly in Europe

Author

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  • Maja Matanic Vautmans

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Marijana Oreb

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Sasa Drezgic

    (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, Rijeka, Croatia)

Abstract

The use of formal and informal care for the elderly depends on many factors: income, urban-rural environment, educational attainment, family composition (singles/multi-member family), age and severity of health complications. For this analysis, a pro-rich poverty model is used based on data from the latest (8th) edition of SHARE (Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe) to examine the impact of socioeconomic inequalities among older people in the use of home care in European Union. The main results indicate that the pro-poor distribution of long-term care prevails in most of the studied countries. At the same time, health variables contribute to pro-poor inequality in the use of long-term care, mainly in informal care. When it comes to formal care, most countries have pro-poor contributions. Formal care inequalities disappeared when adjusted for need factors, while informal care inequalities remained in most countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Maja Matanic Vautmans & Marijana Oreb & Sasa Drezgic, 2023. "Socioeconomic inequality in the use of long-term care for the elderly in Europe," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 47(2), pages 149-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipf:psejou:v:47:y:2023:i:2:p:149-176
    DOI: 10.3326/pse.47.2.1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    formal care; informal care; long-term care; inequity; SHARE data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • R2 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis

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