Tracing old-age poverty: The significance of the household structure on gender differences in the poverty rate in eight EU countries
Ahonen, Kati; Bach-Othman, Jarna (2010)
Ahonen, Kati
Bach-Othman, Jarna
Eläketurvakeskus
2010
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201708308328
Finnish Centre for Pensions, Working Papers 2010:7
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201708308328
Finnish Centre for Pensions, Working Papers 2010:7
Tiivistelmä
In our study, we examine gender differences in the at-risk-of-poverty rate among the elderly in eight EU countries. The aim of our study is to find out how gender differences vary from one country to the next, and what causes the differences in each country. We have been especially interested in the weak correlation between a high female employment rate and small gender differences in the at-risk-of-poverty rate. The empirical part of our study is based on EU-SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions).
According to our study, elderly women’s high poverty risk is strongly related to difficulties regarding the income of single-person households and the higher ratio of female than male single-person households. In addition, gender differences in the at-risk-of-poverty rate are affected by gender differences in the household structure. What is of significance here is whether the household is shared with an older or a younger partner and, in particular, whether this partner is of working age.
The roles of employment history and pension scheme are most visible in single-person households, since these lack other income. A residence-based or a means-tested minimum pension seems to diminish gender differences considerably only if the pension benefit is high enough to ensure an adequate minimum income also for single-person households, despite employment differences.
According to our study, elderly women’s high poverty risk is strongly related to difficulties regarding the income of single-person households and the higher ratio of female than male single-person households. In addition, gender differences in the at-risk-of-poverty rate are affected by gender differences in the household structure. What is of significance here is whether the household is shared with an older or a younger partner and, in particular, whether this partner is of working age.
The roles of employment history and pension scheme are most visible in single-person households, since these lack other income. A residence-based or a means-tested minimum pension seems to diminish gender differences considerably only if the pension benefit is high enough to ensure an adequate minimum income also for single-person households, despite employment differences.
Kokoelmat
- Julkaisut [1149]