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Unpaid labour of older persons and their subjective well-being: a study based on Kerala, India

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  • U. R. Arya

    (University of Kerala)

Abstract

A large share of older people is involved in different forms of unpaid labour. Just because these efforts are carried out by older people and these works are done without remuneration in return and thus excluded from the computation of national income, these contributions mostly go unnoticed. Apart from acting as a help to other members of the same household, these efforts by the older persons help themselves too, and improvement in subjective well-being is one such example. Using data from BKPAI and case studies, this study attempts to understand the role of unpaid labour by older people in influencing their subjective well-being by looking into the differences in intensity of involvement leading to differences in subjective well-being levels. Further, it is attempted to understand the role of certain factors in shaping the effect of involvement in unpaid labour on subjective well-being. The study could see that, notwithstanding variations in forms of unpaid labour, there is a comparatively additional possibility for highly intense participants to experience high levels of subjective well-being. Also, differences in contextual factors play a role in impacting the effect of unpaid labour on subjective well-being. The study could also find the relative effectiveness of voluntary activities not only in promoting a high degree of subjective well-being but also in demoting a low degree of the same.

Suggested Citation

  • U. R. Arya, 2024. "Unpaid labour of older persons and their subjective well-being: a study based on Kerala, India," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 26(3), pages 840-861, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jsecdv:v:26:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s40847-023-00276-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s40847-023-00276-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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