Abstract
Although in most Western countries old age pension schemes have reached maturity over the past decades, it is still the case that the elderly have on average lower incomes than households with nonaged heads. Whether or not this means that their income has to increase further relative to the average income in society is partly a matter of politics and partly a matter of how one measures the material well-being of the elderly. Since in the decades to come the elderly as a percentage of the population will increase in most countries, it is of obvious importance for governments what the answer to the question will be. This chapter addresses the measurement issue rather than the political issue.
The authors wish to thank Marno Verbeek for computational assistance and helpful comments.
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© 1993 A. B. Atkinson and Martin Rein
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Kapteyn, A., Melenberg, B. (1993). Measuring the Well-being of the Elderly. In: Atkinson, A.B., Rein, M. (eds) Age, Work and Social Security. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-22668-9_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-22668-9_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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