Senior Poverty in Canada: A Decomposition Analysis

Tammy Schirle

Canadian Public Policy, 2013, vol. 39, issue 4, 517-540

Abstract: Using 1977-79, 1994-96, and 2006-08 data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), I conduct a decomposition analysis of senior poverty rates to determine whether changes in seniors' characteristics can help explain historical changes in senior poverty rates. I find that increases in the educational attainment of seniors significantly reduced senior poverty, but can only explain a small portion of the reduction in poverty rates between 1977-79 and 1994-96. I find that reductions in the extent to which age and independent living place seniors at risk of poverty significantly and substantially reduced senior poverty rates. Overall, the results support the assertion that retirement income policy is an important determinant of senior poverty in Canada.

Date: 2013
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Working Paper: Senior poverty in Canada: A decomposition analysis (2013)
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