Age Pension Research Articles

Improving senior medical workforce retention at a large teaching hospital trust.

To understand senior clinicians' current thinking regarding retirement at a large teaching hospital trust, the reasons behind it, and what the trust can do to improve retention of these valuable staff. An anonymized survey followed by qualitative study from a focus group. Data from these were analysed using a thematic analysis. Participants were senior clinicians currently employed or who had taken retirement from the trust in the preceding 12months. In total 140 respondents completed the survey, giving a response rate of 65%; 8 senior clinicians attended the focus group. The commonest reasons for taking retirement were wanting to pursue leisure interests, reaching a pensionable age, and feeling unable to sustain their workloads. A significant proportion, 29%, also cited that they did not feel valued. The commonest factors that would encourage respondents to remain at work included increased flexibility, reduced hours, and ability to come off on-call rotas. The main themes from the focus group were focusing on well-being, personalized conversations, and better/more accessible information. Our project identified a number of reasons why clinicians are considering taking retirement, with a major theme of feeling valued underpinning decisions. This could influence strategies to help retain these experienced members of staff. We made a series of recommendations. If enacted, these would have a wider-reaching impact on more junior medical staff, aiding them to consider their own late-stage careers. They are also applicable and could easily be adapted when considering retention of other valued professionals within the trust. Key messages What is already known on this topic-We know that there is currently a medical workforce crisis at a time of greatest patient need, with an ageing workforce and senior staff who are choosing to retire early. Previous studies have reviewed the reasons behind these decisions but not specifically looked at changes that can be implemented at a local level to improve retention. What this study adds-We combined both quantitative and qualitative data from senior clinicians at a large teaching hospital trust in the North of England to understand current thinking regarding retirement and what the trust could do to improve their retention. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy-From our study we were able to make a series of recommendations that can be implemented at a local level to inform medical retention policies. These will also have wider impacts on junior medical staff and could be expanded to other healthcare professionals.

Epidemiology of dwelling fires in England 2010–2023

Despite the number of dwelling fires having decreased around 4 % over the past decade, this incident type is still the leading source of fire-related fatality and casualty in the UK. This study reviews the prevalence of a range of risk factors in dwelling fires, their individual effects on casualties and fatalities, and explores the associations between different risk factors in incidents with at least one fire-related fatality or casualty from dwelling fires in England. MethodThis is a retrospective cohort secondary analysis of all dwelling fires in England attended by any of the 44 English Fire Rescue Services recorded on the Home Office Incident Record System between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2023. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between risk factors recorded and the incidence of at least one fire-related fatality or casualty in dwelling fires. FindingsFatalities or casualties were most likely to occur in dwelling fires at night (OR: 1.78, p < 0.001; adjusted OR: 1.80, p < 0.001), in properties with single occupancy (OR: 1.60, p < 0.001; adjusted OR: 1.25, p < 0.001) and occupant(s) of pensionable age (OR: 1.57, p < 0.001; adjusted OR: 1.54, p < 0.001) and when the extent of fire spread beyond the initial item ignited on arrival (OR: 2.34, p < 0.001; adjusted OR: 2.53, p < 0.001). The human behaviour associated with the highest relative risks of involving a fatality or casualty was identified as lack of attention when handling hot objects or naked fire (OR: 5.12, p < 0.001; adjusted OR 4.40, p < 0.001). ConclusionThis study provides valuable insight on the epidemiology of dwelling fire in England and will support fire prevention efforts of FRS including development a targeted approach for home fire safety visits. These findings will enable targeting of households at elevated risk of experiencing a dwelling fire and particularly those at increased risk of fatality or casualty due to dwelling fire. It will also support the refinement of fire prevention messages to raise awareness of the highest risk factors of injuries and fatalities in dwelling fires.

Social rights in a post-colonial welfare state: Revisiting ‘universality’ and ‘inclusivity’

Scholars have long overlooked the impact of colonialism on the development of European welfare states and their mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. In this article we address this blind spot by examining the ‘pension gap’ of Surinamese-Dutch elderly residing in the Netherlands, many of whom receive reduced public old age pensions. We examine the historical origins of this exclusion from full benefits through a discursive historical analysis of policy documents and parliamentary debates between 1919 and 2023 as well as political claims made by activists. We find that the Dutch welfare state was built on an exclusionary interpretation of social citizenship, granting social rights only to the citizens residing in the metropole. The exclusion of colonial citizens from social rights was deemed self-evident and anchored in laws and political discourses that, although increasingly contested, remain operative today. Our findings question core assumptions in the welfare state literature, especially those regarding the ‘universality’ of social rights and the taken-for-granted boundaries drawn around deserving polities. Thus, we argue that coloniality, territoriality and racialization are indispensable concepts for scholars to engage with in the analysis of social rights stratifications in Europe.

Is the age pension in Australia sustainable and fair? Evidence from forecasting the old-age dependency ratio using the Hamilton-Perry model

The age pension aims to assist eligible elderly Australians who meet specific age and residency criteria in maintaining basic living standards. In designing efficient pension systems, government policymakers seek to satisfy the expectations of the overall aging population in Australia. However, the population’s unique demographic characteristics at the state and territory level are often overlooked due to the lack of available data. We use the Hamilton-Perry model, which requires minimum input, to model and forecast the evolution of age-specific populations at the state and territory level. We also integrate the obtained sub-national demographic information to determine sustainable pension ages up to 2051. We also investigate pension welfare distribution in all states and territories to identify the disadvantaged residents under the current pension system. Using the sub-national mortality data for Australia from 1971 to 2021 obtained from AHMD (2023), we implement the Hamilton-Perry model with the help of functional time series forecasting techniques. With the forecasts of age-specific population sizes for each state and territory, we compute the old age dependency ratio to determine the nationwide sustainable pension age.

Housing Hardship Among Older Adults Living Alone: The Protective Roles of Aging and Housing Policies.

This study investigates the association between living arrangements and housing hardship among older adults across 21 high-income countries. Using data from the Gallup World Poll (2016-2020) and OECD databases, we employ multilevel regression models that can assess how individual- and country-level factors, including public spending on pensions and housing policies such as social housing stock and rent control, moderate these associations. Older adults living alone experience significantly higher rates of housing hardship compared to their counterparts, even after adjusting for demographic and economic factors. Public spending on old age pensions attenuates housing hardship for older adults living alone. While public spending on housing shows limited effectiveness, social housing availability and rent control emerge as protective measures, reducing housing hardship among older adults living alone by providing stable and affordable housing options. This study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to support independent living.

Prevalence of economic violence among the geriatric population and their knowledge and utilization of social security schemes in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu

ABSTRACT Context: Economic independence is an important factor in the prevention of violence among the elderly. Optimal utilization of various social security schemes in India helps them in achieving financial independence and proper utilization of health care services. However, there is a knowledge and service utilization gap among the elderly in our population. Aim and Objectives: To assess the prevalence of economic violence and awareness and utilization of social security schemes among the geriatric population. Settings and Design: Community-based cross-sectional study conducted in rural and urban field practice areas of the tertiary care center. Methods and Material: A simple random sampling method was adopted. The data were collected using a pilot-tested semistructured questionnaire among 406 participants from three selected villages and wards of Venmalagaram and Maduranthakam during January to July 2023. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequencies and proportions were used for categorical variables, and Chi-square test was applied to test the level of significance. P &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of economic violence was found to be 12.1%. Among them, neglect was seen in a major proportion (61.2%). Awareness about the old age pension was seen in 70.7%, followed by Annapurna scheme (17%) and PMVVY (4.9%). The utilization of these schemes was found to be 34.0%, 11.6%, and 2.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of economic violence among the geriatric population was in the form of neglect and property misuse. The knowledge and utilization of social security schemes were poor among the elderly.

Application of probabilistic and stochastic models and data mining for forecasting the contingent of old age pension recipients in the context of systemic uncertainty

The object of the research is mathematical models for forecasting the contingent of pension recipients in conditions of uncertainty caused by both the reform of the pension system and the impact of armed aggression. Based on the study of statistical information on the structure and dynamics of the contingent of pension recipients, an approach to uncovering systemic uncertainty in the task of forecasting the contingent of pensioners is proposed. This work is part of a study of the application of data mining methods of intellectual data analysis and mathematical modeling in information technology intended for use in the pension system. The main focus of this work is on forecasting the dynamics of the contingent of pension recipients by age, in particular, forecasting the number of newly appointed pensions. The difficulty of forecasting the contingent of pension recipients, in particular by age, is connected with the fact that it is necessary to ensure the representativeness and variability of data sets. In addition, it should be taken into account that a significant number of factors must be included in the model in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents. Another problematic issue is that the time series of the investigated indicators, such as data on the insurance experience of insured persons (based on the results of a sample survey), may contain significant (more than 40 %) gaps that can be filled only on the basis of primary (paper) documents. Therefore, the input data sets are formed with assumptions about the probability of the accumulation of insurance experience in various groups of insured persons. The paper proposes an analytical toolkit based on the use of probabilistic and statistical models in the form of Bayesian networks, intended for use in specialized decision-making support systems of the Ukrainian pension system. In the course of the study, a number of numerical experiments were carried out, in which the correctness of the proposed method was investigated. The proposals presented in the paper will improve the stability of the pension system of Ukraine, including through a more accurate definition of the dynamics of the contingent of pension recipients and, accordingly, the costs of pension payments. The proposed models and methods can be used as part of decision-making support systems of state and public administration bodies to analyze the results of reforming the pension system.

Sex-specific socioeconomic risk factors for spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage-a case-control study during the 5 years before ictus.

There is a difference in the incidence of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) between sexes, with the majority of cases occurring in female patients. Although this phenomenon has been studied from a medical perspective, the reasons for the predominance of female cases are still unclear. Non-medical factors, such as a patient's socioeconomic situation, can differ between female and male patients, with health implications. The aim of the study was to identify socioeconomic profiles for both sexes that may be vulnerable to developing SAH. This information could potentially be used for active preventive health efforts. This study was based on a 7-year consecutive cohort of 890 patients with SAH treated at Uppsala University Hospital, along with a sex- and age-matched 5:1 control group from Statistics Sweden. The collected information included demographic data, income that was analyzed through "earnings" (EAs), which is defined as the sum of income and other economic compensations related to work, and "disposable income" (DI), which is the net amount that an individual can use. Pension and sickness-related absence from work were measured using early pension (EP), old age pension (OAP), sickness absence (SA), and disability pension (DP). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used. Among the women, the socioeconomic risk profile for SAH included lower education, unemployment, being registered as living single, residing in a sparsely populated municipality, and increased age. For the men, the risk profile included residing in a sparsely populated municipality and changes in civil status. Both women and men with SAH had lower EAs and DI compared to the controls. Notably, a significantly higher proportion of the women with SAH received DP compared to the controls. Residing in a sparsely populated area was associated with an increased risk for SAH for both women and men. The women with SAH were more economically vulnerable, whereas the men faced a different type of vulnerability related to changes in civil status. We suggest that healthcare organizations use this information to identify individuals at risk and actively implement preventive measures according to stroke guidelines for both groups.

A Policy Proposal to Strengthen the Income Redistribution Function of the National Pension Scheme in South Korea: An Analysis of South Korea’s 5th National Pension Comprehensive Plan (Draft)

In this study, we elucidate the income redistribution effects of the proposal to incorporate the Bend Points mechanism of the U.S. OASDI into the Korean National Pension Scheme (BP-KNPS Proposal) through a micro-simulation analysis using individual data from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS). In addition to examining the effects of introducing the BP-KNPS Proposal into the current National Pension Scheme (NPS), we also consider the impact of this scheme being combined with the 5th National Pension Comprehensive Plan (Draft), announced by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare on 30 October 2023. When the BP-KNPS Proposal is introduced into the current NPS, the Mean Log Deviation (MLD) of the net transfer amount (lifetime pension benefits minus lifetime pension contributions) for regular employees decreases from 0.2022863 to 0.1929960. Similarly, the MLD for self-employed and irregular workers decreases from 0.2046127 to 0.1721433, indicating a reduction in income inequality. Furthermore, when the BP-KNPS Proposal is combined with the 5th National Pension Comprehensive Plan (Draft), the effects are mixed. The proposals to increase the pension contribution rate and adjust the rate increase speed via generation lead to a reduction in income inequality compared to the current NPS when combined with the BP-KNPS Proposal. However, the proposals to raise the pensionable age result in increased income inequality, similar to the outcomes under the current system. This finding suggests that the triple burden identified by literature review—the reduction in benefits due to disparities in contribution periods and life expectancy, and the raised pensionable age—has a greater impact on low-income participants than the inequality-reducing effects of the BP-KNPS Proposal.

Interaction Between Age Pension Means Testing and Innovative Income Streams in Australia*

We investigate the interaction between Age Pension means testing and innovative income streams in Australia, considering the use of an investment‐linked annuity that allows a choice of drawdown level. We find that current means testing arrangements incentivise a very specific usage of investment‐linked annuities that is not materially impacted by individual characteristics or fees, due to incoherencies across the income test and assets test. We investigate alternative means test structures, including a structure that includes only an income test and incorporates capital consumption by adjusting taper rates with age according to an annuitisation schedule. This structure removes the distortions impacting annuity usage, generates the most stable Age Pension over lifetime, encourages drawdown of assets over retirement and more accurately reflects the means of retirees to generate an income at each age.

Retirement consumption puzzle in Japan: Insights from pension and senior worker employment policy changes

Previous studies in Japan have examined the retirement consumption puzzle (RCP) when mandatory retirement was prevalent. However, the retirement landscape has significantly evolved due to rising public pension ages and enhanced policies promoting employment among senior workers. This study explores household consumption behavior as a result of these recent shifts, particularly focusing on the increasingly common practice of partial retirement. We investigate household consumption during retirement, considering partial retirement enabled by policies allowing continued part-time work or self-employment beyond the mandatory retirement age, and address endogeneity issues between retirement and consumption. Our findings reveal that non-durable and food expenditures increase during partial retirement, driven by liquidity effects from substantial retirement lump-sum payments. These results challenge the traditional understanding of consumption patterns in an aging society, highlighting the impact of changes in work environments.

Have later state pensions made people less connected? The effects of older female pension ages in England on social capital

Abstract Many countries have increased their state pension ages (SPAs) to offset demographic ageing and to increase numbers of older people remaining in paid work. Most research attention has focused on the economic outcomes whereas little attention has been paid to impacts on social capital, including rates of volunteering and care-giving. Prior research suggests that these are sensitive to retirement decisions. Using nine waves of individual longitudinal data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, this study examines the effects of increased SPA on volunteering, group membership and providing care. Our results show that higher SPAs have a negative impact on rates of volunteering and providing care, particularly for women in couples. Single women are not affected, and there are not significant effects on group membership and childcare provision. The more work-like aspects of social capital are affected by the increased SPA.

Facilitators and barriers for working beyond statutory pension age: A prospective cohort study across 26 European countries.

The aging population of European countries highlights the need for extended working lives. This study aims to investigate facilitators and barriers for working beyond the statutory pension age (SPA). Using data from waves 1, 2, 4-9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (2004-2022), we followed 9131 workers with a mean age of 56.9 [standard deviation (SD) 3.5] years from 26 European countries until they surpassed the SPA for their respective country, sex and year of participation. Using robust Poisson regression, we modelled the prospective association of work factors, lifestyle, health, and demographics at baseline with working at least one year beyond the SPA. Participants were followed for 9.5 (SD 3.9) years. After surpassing the SPA by at least one year, 18% were still working. Among the work factors, opportunities for skill development [risk ratio (RR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.34] and recognition at work (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26) facilitated working beyond SPA, while time pressure (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81-0.97) and poor prospects for job advancement (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70-0.83) were barriers. For the other factors, smoking was negatively associated with working beyond the SPA, while living in the northern part of Europe, higher level of education, and being divorced or separated were positively associated with working beyond the SPA. This prospective cohort study across 26 European countries identified four modifiable work factors that influenced working beyond the SPA. Addressing modifiable barriers and facilitators at the workplace and through public health initiatives could help extend working lives in Europe.

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge Regarding National Geriatric Health Care Policies Among Elderly People in a Selected Area of Haridwar

This descriptive study aimed to assess the level of knowledge regarding national geriatric health care policies among elderly people in a selected rural area of Haridwar. Geriatric health care is an important aspect of ensuring the well-being and quality of life for the elderly, a population that is often dependent on external support due to the aging process. The study was conducted among 80 participants aged 60 years and above using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through a self-structured questionnaire designed to evaluate knowledge of national policies such as the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Atal Pension Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and others. The results indicated that the majority (65%) of the elderly had average knowledge, while 35% had poor knowledge of these policies, and no participant demonstrated a high level of knowledge. Further analysis revealed no significant association between the level of knowledge and demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and income. This lack of awareness suggests a pressing need for greater dissemination of information regarding geriatric health care policies in rural communities, where elderly people may be particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes due to limited access to healthcare and support services. The study concludes that improving awareness and access to these policies can empower the elderly to better utilize available resources, ultimately improving their health and well-being. The findings highlight the need for targeted health education programs and policy-level interventions to bridge the knowledge gap in rural areas. Future research should explore larger populations and examine strategies to effectively increase policy awareness among the elderly.

Federalising Socialism Without Doctrine

The Australian Constitution is only partly ‘liberal’ (securing political and economic liberties); another part is ‘socialist without doctrine’ (empowering governments to own and operate vast public capital, while providing social insurance in a market economy). That mixture is common in modern advanced economies but was anomalous in the Anglophone constitutional tradition in 1901. Legislative power over ‘old age and invalid pensions’, ‘railway construction’ and ‘conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes’ was an accepted part of the incipient Federal scheme but repugnant to Anglophone constitutional orthodoxy of the 19th century. The integration of ‘colonial socialism’ into the Constitution created one of the longest-standing puzzles in Australian jurisprudence, the Surplus Revenue Case of 1908, and laid the foundations for federal dominance of the Australian economy. Understanding the enduring impact of colonial socialism in Australian constitutionalism sheds light on how Australia’s distinctive political economy grew within a ‘Washminster’ system of government. It also provides principled guidance for future policy challenges that may require expansion of state involvement in the economy.

China's Neoliberal Authoritarian Social Policy

ABSTRACT: China is commonly regarded as a successful alternative to neoliberal economic policy and development strategy. But China's social policies, which were adopted at a pivotal global moment of postsocialist transition in the 1990s, bear significant traits one would associate with neoliberal economic policy. This article uses the case of old age pensions to support this claim. Pension reforms of the early 2000s transferred unprecedented costs and risks to Chinese households under a new social insurance scheme. Twenty years later, the inherent flaws in financing healthcare and pensions through employer-financed and individualized social insurance have become apparent. The concluding section discusses Xi Jinping's dominance of Chinese politics and the risks and economic insecurities that have afflicted Chinese society under these neoliberal social policies.

Changing patterns of inclusion into old age protection in the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey (1865–2020)

Who is protected by social security? This article explores this question by tracing the chronological sequence of inclusion into old age protection in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey. The focus lies on how legislation defines the groups that are covered by old age pensions. We argue that the old age protection system transformed from being aimed at protecting people working for the state, towards covering diverse societal groups and aspiring to universal social protection. The Ottoman Empire institutionalised its centuries-old system of protection of elderly state employees surprisingly early, through pension funds in the late nineteenth century. The Republic of Turkey maintained this approach for several decades, pointing to continuities between the late Ottoman Empire and the early Republic. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, the state transformed old age protection with new schemes for mostly employment-based groups. The analysis reveals intriguing parallels between political inclusion and inclusion in old age protection, with key expansions in the scope of old age protection mirroring shifts in the political regime.

Determinants and inequities in healthy working life expectancy in China.

Many countries are raising the pension age to mitigate the challenges of population aging, but such a solution may ignore the disparities in health and working conditions across populations. Using large-scale longitudinal data from China, this study provides estimates of healthy working life expectancy (HWLE), defined as the average number of years expected to be spent healthy and in work from age 50 years, and highlights substantial inequities in HWLE by gender, socioeconomic status and geographical region. The HWLE from age 50 years was, on average, 6.87 (95% confidence interval: 6.70 to 7.04) years in China. Hypertension was the leading chronic condition for people working unhealthily (5.67 years for men and 4.85 years for women), and arthritis contributed the largest differences in unhealthy working years across people by occupation (agricultural laborer versus enterprise employee, 3.28 years). Moreover, adopting healthy lifestyles was associated with gains in HWLE (2.13 years for men and 1.61 years for women). Our findings suggest that increasing the pension age through a 'one-size-fits-all' approach may not effectively meet the goal of extending working lives. Inclusive initiatives aimed at targeted populations to promote health or work conditions and to facilitate the pension system will be essential to improve HWLE by reducing inequities.

Gender-differences in retirement from entrepreneurship: the influence of pension policies across Europe

PurposeThe interest in older entrepreneurs increases due to population aging. Previous research showed clear gender-differences among older entrepreneurs. This study investigates whether such gender-differences also exist in the retirement transition from entrepreneurship. It explores the influence of pension regulations for entrepreneurs on these gender-differences.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal micro-level data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe is analyzed in multichannel sequence analyses and cluster analyses. Developments from age 50 to 69 are compared in the dimensions of entrepreneurship, employment and old-age pensions.FindingsEntrepreneurs retire in three different transition patterns: (1) entrepreneurs becoming pensioners at 60, (2) entrepreneurs becoming pensioners at 65 and (3) individuals combining entrepreneurship with employment until they become pensioners at 65. Female entrepreneurs follow the same transition patterns as their male counterparts but retire earlier. Pension regulations for entrepreneurs modify the extent of the gender-differences within a country. Mandatory pension schemes with identical state pension ages for men and women reduce gender-differences, whereas mandatory schemes with gender-differences in the state pension age increase them. Schemes without mandatory coverage range in between the other two.Originality/valueThis article expands our knowledge on gender-differences among older entrepreneurs. These gender-differences also extent to how entrepreneurs transition into retirement. Pension regulations for entrepreneurs influence the extent of the gender-differences. Therefore, pension regulations for entrepreneurs constitute tools for promoting or hindering gender equality.

How does the digital economy affect the sustainability of pensions? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT The relationship between an ageing population and pension sustainability is interrelated with the positive effect of the digital economy on both. However, there has been limited research conducted on the connection between the digital economy and pensions. In this study, we analyse the impact channels of the digital economy on pension sustainability using panel data at the city and provincial levels and an intermediary effect model. The analysis indicates that the digital economy can enhance the sustainability of pension funds through the mediating transmission mechanisms of economic growth, income, and employment effects. Furthermore, the development of a digital economy can effectively regulate the impact of ageing on the sustainability of pensions. We also discuss the relationship between digital development, population structure, and sustainable development of pension systems, along with policy advice.