Some Demographic Consequences of Revising the Definition of 'Old' to Reflect Future Changes in Life Table Probabilities

Frank Denton and Byron Spencer

Quantitative Studies in Economics and Population Research Reports from McMaster University

Abstract: Sixty-five has long been used to define the beginning of 'old age'. Yet it is clear that the definition is arbitrary, and with continuing reductions in mortality and morbidity rates it will become increasingly inappropriate as time passes. We consider how the definition might be modified to reflect changes in life table probabilities, and how the future numbers and proportions in 'old age' would be affected. In a similar manner we consider also the redefinition of the 'oldest old' from a current definition of 85 and over.

Keywords: life table probabilities; old age (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2000-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: Some Demographic Consequences of Revising the Definition of 'Old' to Reflect Future Changes in Life Table Probabilities (2000)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mcm:qseprr:352

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