Publication
Understanding and analysing changes in poverty among the elderly across 16 European countries using decomposition approach
In this study, Caminada et al. examine elderly poverty across 16 European countries (2005-2022). With nearly 1 billion people aged 65+ by 2030, elderly poverty remains a growing yet underexplored issue, as most studies focus on the general population instead.
- Author
- Koen Caminada, Kees Goudswaard, Jingqi Liu, Chen Wang, Jinxian Wang
- Date
- 30 June 2025
- Links
- Read the full article here
The article analyses factors like public and private pensions, labor market participation, education, and household composition. The findings show that reductions in elderly poverty are mainly driven by public and private pension benefits, especially public pensions. Increased labor market involvement and higher education among elderly household heads also contributed to poverty reduction, though their impact has lessened over time.
The research highlights the importance of maintaining strong public pension systems and improving job opportunities and education for older adults. It also calls for policies supporting vulnerable groups, such as single-person households, to ensure social inclusion through targeted financial aid and accessible healthcare.