Ageing and diversity: Inequalities in longevity and health in low-mortality countries

Longevity and old age are two aspects of the same phenomenon, representing a major concern for modern societies. There is universal consensus among scholars about the need for new frameworks and measures to define older people in a more effective and dynamic way. The aim of this paper is to compute...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Demographic research 2024, Vol.50, p.347-376
Main Authors: Strozza, Cosmo, Egidi, Viviana, Testa, Maria Rita, Caselli, Graziella
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aging
Case studies
Demographic aspects
Demography
Education
Equality
Gender
Health aspects
Health disparities
Health education
Health risks
Life expectancy
Life tables
Longevity
Modern society
Mortality
Mortality risk
Older people
Population
Population aging
Population growth
Research Article
Residence
Social aspects
Social inequality
Social science research
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic status
Thresholds
Trends
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Longevity and old age are two aspects of the same phenomenon, representing a major concern for modern societies. There is universal consensus among scholars about the need for new frameworks and measures to define older people in a more effective and dynamic way. The aim of this paper is to compute prospective old-age thresholds (POATs) in six countries characterised by disparate progress in survival. To outline possible strategies to counter population ageing, the paper also examines trends in POAT and disability-free POAT (DF-POAT) in Italy by gender, geographical area, and education. During the period 1950-2020 the POAT advanced everywhere, albeit in different rhythms by country, gender, and period. However, great differences in POAT and DF-POAT have emerged, depending on place of residence, education, and health. The POAT changes the evaluation of population ageing and could reduce the alarm caused by measures based on static chronological old-age thresholds. Using Italy as a case study, we show that overcoming geographical and social inequalities would counteract the population ageing process.
ISSN:1435-9871
2363-7064
1435-9871
DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2024.50.12