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Poverty and Old Age in Scandinavia: A Problem of Gendered Injustice? Evidence from the 2010 GERDA Survey in Finland and Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Mikael Nygård

    (Åbo Akademi University)

  • Camilla Härtull

    (Åbo Akademi University)

  • Annika Wentjärvi

    (Novia University of Applied Sciences)

  • Susanne Jungerstam

    (Novia University of Applied Sciences)

Abstract

This article investigates the prevalence of two forms of income poverty among older adults in Finland and Sweden from a gendered perspective. It examines differences in both objective and subjective (i.e. experienced) income poverty between older women and men, and asks to what extent the gender variable can explain these differences after controlling for the impact of other variables, such as education. The analysis is based on data from the Gerda 2010 survey, and covers 65-, 70-, 75- and 80-year-olds living in Österbotten, Finland and Västerbotten, Sweden. The results show a stronger prevalence of both objective and subjective income poverty among older women compared to that of men, and this systematic difference remains significant after controlling for other variables, although a mediating effect upon this association can be detected from variables such as health or education. As a whole, the results suggest that these two Nordic countries, despite their egalitarian welfare states and redistributive pension systems, may face a problem of gendered injustice in old age.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikael Nygård & Camilla Härtull & Annika Wentjärvi & Susanne Jungerstam, 2017. "Poverty and Old Age in Scandinavia: A Problem of Gendered Injustice? Evidence from the 2010 GERDA Survey in Finland and Sweden," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(2), pages 681-698, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:132:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1313-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1313-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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