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Comparative Well‐Being Of Children And Elderly

Author

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  • TIMOTHY SMEEDING
  • BARBARA BOYLE TORREY
  • MARTIN REIN

Abstract

This paper compares the economic well‐being of children and the elderly to each other in the United States and across six industrialized countries. Using the Luxembourg Income Study database, we find that U.S. children–whose economic status is measured by their family income–are generally worse off than U.S. elderly in terms of both poverty and adjusted mean income. Moreover, U.S. children are worse off in terms of higher poverty rates than are the children in any of the other countries studied. The paper presents a variety of explanations for these differences.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy Smeeding & Barbara Boyle Torrey & Martin Rein, 1987. "Comparative Well‐Being Of Children And Elderly," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 5(2), pages 57-72, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:5:y:1987:i:2:p:57-72
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1987.tb00256.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Timothy Smeeding & Gunther Schmaus & Serge Allegreza, 1985. "An Introduction to LIS - The Luxembourg Income Study," LIS Working papers 1, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    2. Kilpatrick, Robert W, 1973. "The Income Elasticity of the Poverty Line," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 55(3), pages 327-332, August.
    3. Yossi Tamir & Leah Achdut, 1985. "Comparative Economic Status of the Retired and Nonretired Elderly," LIS Working papers 5, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    4. repec:bla:revinw:v:28:y:1982:i:3:p:345-59 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Timothy Smeeding & Lee Rainwater & Gaston Schaber & Richard Hauser & Martin Rein, 1985. "Poverty in Major Industrialized Countries," LIS Working papers 2, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    6. Mary Jo Bane & David T. Ellwood, 1986. "Slipping into and out of Poverty: The Dynamics of Spells," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 21(1), pages 1-23.
    7. Peter Hedstrom & Stein Ringen & Stephen Jenkins, 1985. "Age and Income in Contemporary Society," LIS Working papers 4, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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