This report examines how the two global mega-trends of population ageing and rising inequalities have been developing and interacting, both within and across generations. Taking a life-course perspective the report shows how inequalities in education, health, employment and earnings compound, resulting in large differences in lifetime earnings…

Housing is an important aspect of living standards and quality of life for older persons, but the housing-related problems they may face encompass rather different circumstances, relating to the condition of the dwelling, how well equipped it is, whether housing costs represent a serious burden, and whether the neighbourhood environment is…

Globally, an increasing number of people migrate from their rural communities to large cities. Despite the pervasive thinking that indigenous communities are solidified in space and strictly conserve cultural traditions, indigenous individuals and families increasingly leave their homelands to set up a new life in an urban environment mostly…

Discusses the socioeconomic causes of the disproportionate level of poverty found among women aged 65 and over. Reasons why Social Security programs are essential for maintaining minimal standards of living for many older women are presented. Specific proposals for bringing about change are included. (AM)

These interviews, edited from tapes made in the field, convey, albeit optimistically, the harsh realities of poverty and withal, the resilience and strength that some elderly can clearly muster. (Author)

Based on the 1979 Annual Housing Survey, the elderly--especially the rural elderly--are more likely than other groups to live in inadequate housing. Housing was defined as inadequate if it had one or more of the following flaws: incomplete plumbing facilities, incomplete kitchen facilities, leaking roof, holes in walls or ceilings, and exposed…

This article recognizes that money is a key problem in retirement and takes the approach that a review of past satisfactions and of future hopes is the best starting point in sound financial planning. Planning aids and worksheets are included. (Author/MLF)

The 20th century has brought many demographic changes to the United States. This booklet briefly relates some of those changes and provides many charts and graphs to illustrate the changes graphically. The century has been one of population growth, but the rate of growth has slowed since the 1950s. The population is mobile, with more than two out…

At this hearing on abolishing poverty among older Americans, 11 witnesses testified regarding the needs of elderly and disabled Americans. Of particular concern was the efficacy of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income as programs to reduce poverty and the special concerns of elderly blacks. Most witnesses spoke about the negative…

People aged 65 and over, and particularly the "old old," i.e., 75 and over, are the fastest growing age group in the United States. This group numbers 25 million in 1980, 11% of the population, with women outnumbering men by 5 million. Although a quarter of the federal budget goes to their support, poor coordination among federal programs for the…

As of 1985 the population of persons aged 65 or over in the United States numbered 28.5 million. By the year 2000, persons in the 65+ age group are expected to represent 13 percent of the population, and this percentage may climb to 21.2 percent by 2030. In 1985, older men were twice as likely to be married as older women. Sixty-seven percent of…

Although the role of women in the American economy has come a long way in the years since 1950, women have made relatively little progress in quite a number of areas. In the years during and after World War II, women's employment has increased significantly, with married women being the ones who have entered the work force most rapidly. Despite…

As increasing numbers of women make the transition from the household sector into the labor market, dramatic changes in household composition have occurred that have thrust many women into the role of provider. This new role for women has led to dramatic and rapid changes in attitudes, as well as in the institutions and laws relating to women's…