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Elderly Poverty and Its Measurement

Author

Listed:
  • Yoko Niimi

    (Faculty of Policy Studies, Doshisha University, and Asian Growth Research Institute, JAPAN)

  • Charles Yuji Horioka

    (Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University, Asian Growth Research Institute, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University and National Bureau of Economic Research, JAPAN)

Abstract

This paper examines various aspects of elderly poverty and its measurement. It first discusses some of the most important issues relating to measuring elderly poverty. It then reviews recent trends in elderly poverty, which show considerable heterogeneity in the extent of elderly poverty even among developed countries. Such cross-country differences are due at least partly to differences in the generosity of public old-age pensions and other social safety nets for the elderly. Empirical evidence also corroborates that the expansion of public pension programs has often played a key role in reducing elderly poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoko Niimi & Charles Yuji Horioka, 2021. "Elderly Poverty and Its Measurement," Discussion Paper Series DP2021-23, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    • Handle: RePEc:kob:dpaper:dp2021-23
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    File URL: https://www.rieb.kobe-u.ac.jp/academic/ra/dp/English/DP2021-23.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Elderly poverty; Population aging; Poverty measurement; Public pensions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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