Poverty across the Life Cycle: Evidence from the PSID

Mark R. Rank and Thomas A. Hirschl
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Mark R. Rank: George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Postal: George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis
Thomas A. Hirschl: Department of Rural Sociology, Cornell University, Ithaca, Postal: Department of Rural Sociology, Cornell University, Ithaca

Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2001, vol. 20, issue 4, 737-755

Abstract: The likelihood of experiencing poverty at some point during the adult life cycle is estimated. These probabilities are derived through a set of life tables built upon 25 waves of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and represent an alternative approach to studying poverty than prior empirical studies. Life table analyses are divided into early adulthood (ages 20-40), middle adulthood (ages 40-60),and later adulthood (ages 60-80). The findings indicate that individuals within the sample face a significant risk of poverty at some point during their adult lives, particularly during the early and later stages of adulthood. Duration tends to be relatively short (1 or 2 years), but once poverty occurs, it is likely to occur again. Results also reveal the profound life-course effect that race, education, and gender have upon the likelihood of encountering poverty during the adult years. Several policy and research implications are discussed. © 2001 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Date: 2001
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:20:y:2001:i:4:p:737-755

DOI: 10.1002/pam.1026

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