IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joecag/v22y2022ics2212828x21000578.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effect of social pension on consumption among older adults in Korea

Author

Listed:
  • Kang, Ji Young
  • Park, Sojung
  • Ahn, Seoyeon

Abstract

Focusing on the Korean case of social pensions, we evaluated the extent to which the basic pension scheme (BPS), a means-tested public assistance program, affects consumption. Data came from two years (2013 and 2015) of the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS) (N = 3615 households). Applying the Propensity Score Matching (PSM), Difference in Difference (DiD), and triple difference (DDD) approach, we used linear regression models with the fixed-effect model to estimate the effects of BPS. We found a significant increase in the expenditure ratio in absolute and relative poverty levels and total expenditure. BPS led to increased spending on essential living items (food, clothing) and health care, but not leisure. The results also supported that the social pension positively affects spending among the more disadvantaged population as the beneficial effects were more prominent among those living alone than those living with other household members. However, we did not find a significant effect among the poor, likely because the Korean policies reduce the benefits obtained from other public assistance programs if the poor old adult receives BPS benefits. Our findings provide useful insights for economies that encounter challenges associated with rapid population aging.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang, Ji Young & Park, Sojung & Ahn, Seoyeon, 2022. "The effect of social pension on consumption among older adults in Korea," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:22:y:2022:i:c:s2212828x21000578
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100364
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212828X21000578
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100364?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Catalina Amuedo‐Dorantes & Laura Juarez, 2015. "Old‐Age Government Transfers and the Crowding Out of Private Gifts: The 70 and Above Program for the Rural Elderly in Mexico," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 81(3), pages 782-802, January.
    2. Galiani, Sebastian & Gertler, Paul & Bando, Rosangela, 2016. "Non-contributory pensions," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 47-58.
    3. Armando Barrientos, 2015. "Is There a Role for Social Pensions in Asia?," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 8-20, January.
    4. Leonardo Gasparini & Javier Alejo & Francisco Haimovich & Sergio Olivieri & Leopoldo Tornarolli, 2010. "Poverty among older people in Latin America and the Caribbean," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 176-207.
    5. Randall S. Jones & Satoshi Urasawa, 2014. "Reducing the High Rate of Poverty Among the Elderly in Korea," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1163, OECD Publishing.
    6. Gao, Qin & Zhai, Fuhua & Yang, Sui & Li, Shi, 2014. "Does Welfare Enable Family Expenditures on Human Capital? Evidence from China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 219-231.
    7. Montgomery, L.E. & Kiely, J.L. & Pappas, G., 1996. "The effects of poverty, race, and family structure on US children's health: Data from the NHIS, 1978 through 1980 and 1989 through 1991," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 86(10), pages 1401-1405.
    8. Huamao Zheng & Teng Zhong, 2016. "The impacts of social pension on rural household expenditure: evidence from China," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 221-237, July.
    9. Huamao Zheng & Teng Zhong, 2016. "The impacts of social pension on rural household expenditure: evidence from China," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 221-237, July.
    10. Bruce D. Meyer & James X. Sullivan, 2011. "Viewpoint: Further results on measuring the well‐being of the poor using income and consumption," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 52-87, February.
    11. Hamermesh, Daniel S, 1984. "Life-Cycle Effects on Consumption and Retirement," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(3), pages 353-370, July.
    12. Unnikrishnan, Vidhya & Imai, Katsushi S., 2020. "Does the old-age pension scheme improve household welfare? Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    13. Nanak Kakwani & Kalanidhi Subbarao, 2007. "Poverty among the elderly in Sub-Saharan Africa and the role of social pensions," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(6), pages 987-1008.
    14. repec:wly:soecon:v:81:3:y:2015:p:782-802 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Holt, Douglas B, 1995. "How Consumers Consume: A Typology of Consumption Practices," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 22(1), pages 1-16, June.
    16. Long T. Giang & Wade D. Pfau, 2009. "Vulnerability of Vietnamese Elderly to Poverty: Determinants and Policy Implications," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 23(4), pages 419-437, December.
    17. Bruce D. Meyer & James X. Sullivan, 2012. "Identifying the Disadvantaged: Official Poverty, Consumption Poverty, and the New Supplemental Poverty Measure," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 26(3), pages 111-136, Summer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dong, Shizheng & Zhang, Zili & Han, Yiduo & Si, Yanwu, 2023. "Do pension subsidies reduce household education expenditure inequality? Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 532-540.
    2. Li, Jingrong & Mi, Xinyu & Zhang, Chenlei & Qin, Yanran, 2024. "Social pension insurance and household risky asset investment: Evidence from China," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 219-233.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pak, Tae-Young, 2020. "Social protection for happiness? The impact of social pension reform on subjective well-being of the Korean elderly," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 349-366.
    2. Jing You & Miguel Niño‐Zarazúa, 2019. "The Intergenerational Impact of China's New Rural Pension Scheme," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 45(S1), pages 47-95, December.
    3. Xing Ji & Jingwen Xu & Hongxiao Zhang, 2022. "How Does China’s New Rural Pension Scheme Affect Agricultural Production?," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, July.
    4. Yoko Niimi & Charles Yuji Horioka, 2023. "Elderly poverty and its measurement," Chapters, in: Jacques Silber (ed.), Research Handbook on Measuring Poverty and Deprivation, chapter 29, pages 307-315, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Pinaki Das & Bibek Paria & Shama Firdaush, 2021. "Juxtaposing Consumption Poverty and Multidimensional Poverty: A Study in Indian Context," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 469-501, January.
    6. Verónica Amarante & Maira Colacce, 2022. "Multidimensional Poverty Among Older People in Five Latin American Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 945-965, February.
    7. Stefanie Huber, 2022. "SHE canÕt afford it and HE doesnÕt want it: The gender gap in the COVID-19 consumption response," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-029/II, Tinbergen Institute.
    8. Ingvild Almås & Timothy K.M. Beatty & Thomas F. Crossley, 2018. "Lost in Translation: What do Engel Curves Tell us about the Cost of Living?," CESifo Working Paper Series 6886, CESifo.
    9. Tan, Jing & Xu, Hao & Yu, Jingwen, 2022. "The effect of homeownership on migrant household savings: Evidence from the removal of home purchase restrictions in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    10. Carla Canelas & Miguel Niño-Zarazúa, 2022. "Informality and Pension Reforms in Bolivia: The Case of Renta Dignidad," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(7), pages 1436-1458, July.
    11. Alzua, Maria Laura & Cantet, Maria Natalia & Dammert, Ana & Olajide, Daminola, 2020. "Mental Health Effects of an Old Age Pension: Experimental Evidence for Ekiti State in Nigeria," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304176, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    12. Vidhya Unnikrishnan & Kunal Sen, 2020. "Old-age pensions and female labour supply in India," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-90, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    13. Miguel Ángel Borrella Mas & Mariano Bosch Mossi & Marcello Sartarelli, 2016. "Non-Contributory Pensions Number-Gender Effects on Poverty and Household Decisions," Working Papers. Serie AD 2016-02, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).
    14. Catalina Amuedo‐Dorantes & Laura Juarez & Jorge Alonso, 2019. "The Effect Of Noncontributory Pensions On Saving In Mexico," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(2), pages 931-952, April.
    15. Tobias Pfutze & Carlos Rodríguez-Castelán, 2019. "Can a Small Social Pension Promote Labor Force Participation? Evidence from the Colombia Mayor Program," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Fall 2019), pages 111-154, October.
    16. Bruce D. Meyer & James X. Sullivan, 2017. "Consumption and Income Inequality in the U.S. Since the 1960s," NBER Working Papers 23655, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Ce Shen & Jessica Johnson & Zhenhe Chi & John B. Williamson, 2020. "Does a universal non‐contributory social pension make sense for rural China?," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 73(2), pages 3-26, April.
    18. Pak, Tae-Young, 2021. "What are the effects of expanding social pension on health? Evidence from the Basic Pension in South Korea," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    19. Cristina Bernini & Silvia Emili & Maria Rosaria Ferrante, 2023. "Poverty‐happiness nexus: Does the use of regional poverty lines matter?," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(2), pages 253-272, April.
    20. Bruce D. Meyer & James X. Sullivan, 2013. "Consumption and Income Inequality and the Great Recession," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 178-183, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:22:y:2022:i:c:s2212828x21000578. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-the-economics-of-ageing .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.