Poverty and Social Policy of Aging: Investigating the Determinants of Income Poverty Among Older Adults in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries

Objectives: Income poverty is one of the most common problems of old age. It varies among older adults living in different societies. This study aims to investigate the predictors of income poverty in older adults based on the data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Methods: The secondary data analysis method was used in the present study. The income poverty rate and its associated variables were extracted from ۳۶ members of OECD countries and entered into the SPSS software, version ۲۲. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation coefficient test and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. Results: The results showed that in the studied countries, the mean of income poverty among older adults was higher in women (۱۱.۴۸±۱۶.۲), and the elderly aged ۷۵ years or above (۱۲.۵۷±۱۶.۱). The income poverty of older adults was significantly correlated with older adults’ share in the gross domestic product (r=-۰.۳۷۶, P=۰۲۴), targeted pension coverage (r=-۰.۵۰۵, P=۰.۰۰۳), income sources based on public transfers (r=-۰.۴۶۰, P=۰.۰۰۵), income sources from work (r=۰.۶۹۷, P=۰.۰۰۰), mandatory pension contribution rate (r=-۰.۳۴۳, P=۰.۰۴۰), and net pension replacement rate (r=-۰.۴۲۴, P=۰.۰۱۰). The results of regression analysis also revealed that variables of income sources from work and targeted pension coverage explained ۶۶% of the variance in income poverty among older adults. Discussion: It is important to pay attention to the variables of age and gender of older people to overcome economic vulnerability in social policies. It is also necessary to consider the role of the share of public transfers and basic old-age pensions to reduce older adults’ poverty. The lessons to be learned from OECD countries in this research are useful for the social rehabilitation of older adults in Iran. Coresponding author: Shiva Parvaei, E-mail: [e-mail] You can also search for this author in:  Google Scholar