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Aging and poverty in Africa and the role of social pensions

Author

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  • Kakwani, Nanak
  • Subbarao, Kalanidhi

Abstract

In many low income African countries, three factors are placing an undue burden on the elderly. First, the burden on the elderly has enormously increased with the increase in mortality of prime age adults due to HIV AIDS pandemic and regional conflicts. Second, the traditional safety net of the extended family has become ineffective and unreliable for the elderly. Third, in a few countries, the elderly are called upon to shoulder the responsibility of the family as they became the principal breadwinners and caregivers for young children. While a number of studies have examined the welfare consequences of these developments on children, few studies have systematically analyzed the poverty situation among the elderly (relative to other groups) in low income countries Africa, and the role of social pensions. This study aims to fill this gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Kakwani, Nanak & Subbarao, Kalanidhi, 2005. "Aging and poverty in Africa and the role of social pensions," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 32752, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:32752
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:wbk:wbpubs:14902 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Subbarao, Kalanidhi, 1998. "Namibia's social safety net : issues and options for reform," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1996, The World Bank.
    3. Case, Anne & Deaton, Angus, 1998. "Large Cash Transfers to the Elderly in South Africa," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(450), pages 1330-1361, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brooks Evans & Robert Palacios, 2015. "Who is Poorer?," World Bank Publications - Reports 24992, The World Bank Group.
    2. Cheng, Lingguo & Liu, Hong & Zhang, Ye & Zhao, Zhong, 2018. "The health implications of social pensions: Evidence from China's new rural pension scheme," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 53-77.
    3. repec:wbk:wbpubs:6007 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Sam Hickey & Jeremy Seekings, 2017. "The global politics of social protection," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-115, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Joseph R Starnes & Chiara Di Gravio & Rebecca Irlmeier & Ryan Moore & Vincent Okoth & Ash Rogers & Daniele J Ressler & Troy D Moon, 2021. "Characterizing multidimensional poverty in Migori County, Kenya and its association with depression," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(11), pages 1-10, November.
    6. Lingguo Cheng & Hong Liu & Ye Zhang & Zhong Zhao, 2018. "The heterogeneous impact of pension income on elderly living arrangements: evidence from China’s new rural pension scheme," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 31(1), pages 155-192, January.
    7. Mark Dorfman, 2015. "Pension Patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Bank Publications - Reports 22339, The World Bank Group.
    8. Palacios, Robert & Sluchynsky, Oleksiy, 2006. "Social pensions Part I : their role in the overall pension system," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 36237, The World Bank.
    9. Ahmed, Akhter U. & Hill, Ruth Vargas & Smith, Lisa C. & Wiesmann, Doris M. & Frankenberger, Tim, 2007. "The World's Most Deprived: Characteristics and Causes of Extreme Poverty and Hunger," 2020 Discussion Papers 42252, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    10. World Bank, 2007. "Zambia : Poverty and Vulnerabiltiy Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 7863, The World Bank Group.
    11. Jeremy Seekings, 2017. "‘Affordability’ and the political economy of social protection in contemporary Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 043, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    12. Sam Hickey & Jeremy Seekings, 2017. "The global politics of social protection," WIDER Working Paper Series 115, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    13. Jeremy Seekings, 2017. "'Affordability' and the political economy of social protection in contemporary Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-43, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Dorfman,Mark Charles, 2015. "Pension patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 98131, The World Bank.
    15. Sarmistha Pal & Robert Palacios, 2011. "Understanding Poverty among the Elderly in India: Implications for Social Pension Policy," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(7), pages 1017-1037.
    16. Stephen Devereux & Edoardo Masset & Rachel Sabates-Wheeler & Michael Samson & Althea-Maria Rivas & Dolf te Lintelo, 2017. "The targeting effectiveness of social transfers," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 162-211, April.
    17. repec:wbk:wbpubs:2249 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Montserrat Pallares-Miralles & Carolina Romero & Edward Whitehouse, 2012. "A Worldwide Overview of Facts and Figures," World Bank Publications - Reports 11891, The World Bank Group.

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