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Revisiting Economic Vulnerability in Old Age

Low Income and Subjective Experiences Among Swiss Pensioners

Authors:

  • Provides a framework for distinguishing between different degrees of subjectivity in poverty measures
  • The statistical methods used include regression analysis and structural equation models
  • Draws on a wide range of theoretical strands from economics to psychology empirical, conceptual and theoretical contributions
  • Uses empirical data from Switzerland

Part of the book series: Life Course Research and Social Policies (LCRS, volume 11)

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Table of contents (30 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    • Julia Henke
    Pages 1-3
  3. Part I

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-6
    2. Vulnerability

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 7-21
    3. Objectivity and Subjectivity

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 23-33
    4. Measures of Economic Vulnerability

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 35-52
  4. Part II

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 67-67
    2. Data Set

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 69-72
    3. Analytical Methods

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 81-95
    4. Choice of Variables

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 97-123
    5. Missing Values

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 125-134
  5. Part III

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-136
    2. Background Characteristics

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 151-165
    3. Economic Resources

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 167-177
    4. Financial Needs and Expectations

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 179-194
    5. Psychosocial Consequences and Symptoms

      • Julia Henke
      Pages 195-203

About this book

This book offers an interdisciplinary analysis of the experience of economic vulnerability among older adults. Drawing on various fields ranging from happiness, economics to stress research, it integrates assessments from objective and subjective measurement perspectives. The book offers nuanced insights into prevalent experiences of low economic quality of life in wealthy countries, using empirical data from Switzerland. A sample of some 1500 adults aged 65-84 is taken as the basis for a systematic comparison of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of three – overlapping – groups of potentially vulnerable pensioners: those who are income-poor (objective measure), those who report difficulties making ends meet (subjectively self-assessed measure) and those who worry about not having enough money for current expenses (subjectively perceived measure). Theoretical and empirical evidence is offered for the distinctiveness of the two subjective indicators, one of which assesses the experience of economic strain while the other captures the individual’s response in terms of stress. The conceptual contribution of this research includes a typology of economic vulnerability: eight distinct profiles emerge at the intersection of the objective, self-assessed and perceived measures. These profiles correspond to specific risk constellations, and they reflect varying degrees of human agency in dealing with economic vulnerability.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Julia Henke

About the author

Julia Henke obtained her PhD in socioeconomics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, in collaboration with the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES. Her research interests focus on quality of life, specifically the intersection of economic and psychological well-being. During her doctoral studies she started working for a development organization and since 2016 she works as a researcher in the communications department of a humanitarian organization.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Revisiting Economic Vulnerability in Old Age

  • Book Subtitle: Low Income and Subjective Experiences Among Swiss Pensioners

  • Authors: Julia Henke

  • Series Title: Life Course Research and Social Policies

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36323-9

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Economics and Finance, Economics and Finance (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-36322-2Published: 05 March 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-36325-3Published: 05 March 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-36323-9Published: 04 March 2020

  • Series ISSN: 2211-7776

  • Series E-ISSN: 2211-7784

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 326

  • Number of Illustrations: 61 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Population Economics, Aging, Quality of Life Research

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access