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Should income transfers be targeted or universal? Insights from public pension influences on elderly mortality in Canada, 1921-1966

Author

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  • J.C. Herbert Emery
  • Jesse A. Matheson

Abstract

We investigate the impact of Canada's means-tested and universal public pension programs on the mortality rates of age groups eligible for pension benefits for the period 1921-1966. We find that only the universal program significantly reduced pension eligible age group mortality rates. The implied social value of the mortality risk reduction from this program is one-tenth of the value per statistical life associated with contemporary government policy, meaning that Canadians did not need to place a high value on the life of a senior to justify the higher cost of the universal program. JEL classification: I3, J1

Suggested Citation

  • J.C. Herbert Emery & Jesse A. Matheson, 2012. "Should income transfers be targeted or universal? Insights from public pension influences on elderly mortality in Canada, 1921-1966," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 45(1), pages 247-269, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cje:issued:v:45:y:2012:i:1:p:247-269
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5982.2011.01694.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Littlewood, Michael, 2014. "Ageing populations, retirement incomes and public policy: what really matters," MPRA Paper 56232, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Jose A. Valderrama & Javier Olivera, 2023. "The effects of social pensions on mortality among the extreme poor elderly," Documentos de Trabajo / Working Papers 2023-525, Departamento de Economía - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
    3. Kim, Chungah, 2025. "Social pension expansion and suicidal behaviour of older adults in Korea: A quasi-experimental study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    4. J.C. Herbert Emery & Jesse A. Matheson, 2012. "Should income transfers be targeted or universal? Insights from public pension influences on elderly mortality in Canada, 1921-1966," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 45(1), pages 247-269, February.
    5. Tobias Pfutze & Carlos Rodr�guez-Castel�n, 2019. "Can a Small Social Pension Promote Labor Force Participation? Evidence from the Colombia Mayor Program," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Fall 2019), pages 111-154.
    6. Jäger, Philipp, 2023. "Can pensions save lives? Evidence from the introduction of old-age assistance in the UK," Ruhr Economic Papers 995, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    7. Jäger, Philipp, 2019. "The introduction of social pensions and elderly mortality: Evidence 1870-1939," Ruhr Economic Papers 808, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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