Elderly Poverty Alleviation through Living with Family

We estimate here the extent of United States elderly poverty alleviation through living with family. These estimates are motivated by public-policy concern about the well-being of the elderly, and by the relevance of the process for fertility under the old-age-security hypothesis. An inter-temporal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of population economics 1995-11, Vol.8 (4), p.383-405
Main Authors: Rendall, Michael S., Speare, Alden
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age
Age Factors
Aged
Americas
Bequests
Care of the aged
Children
Culture
Demography
Developed Countries
Economic resources
Economics
Ethnic Groups
Family Characteristics
Geography
Household consumption
Models, Theoretical
North America
Old Age Assistance
Older adults
Population
Population Characteristics
Poverty
Poverty rates
Public Policy
Residence Characteristics
Sex Factors
Single status
Social welfare
Socioeconomic Factors
U.S.A
United States
Wellbeing
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Summary:We estimate here the extent of United States elderly poverty alleviation through living with family. These estimates are motivated by public-policy concern about the well-being of the elderly, and by the relevance of the process for fertility under the old-age-security hypothesis. An inter-temporal poverty-measurement model is estimated with 1984 Survey of Income and Program Participation income and wealth data. Without extended-family co-residence, and assuming no dequests, poverty rates would increase 42% over observed rates. Female elderly account for almost all the alleviated poverty. As a population, their impoverishment with age is effectively prevented by co-residence. Proportionately more black than white elderly are beneficiaries of poverty alleviation through living with family, but white elderly are more likely to be beneficiaries if at risk.
ISSN:0933-1433
1432-1475
DOI:10.1007/BF00180875