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Trends in living conditions and satisfaction among poorer older South Africans: objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the October Household Survey

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  • Valerie Møller
  • Richard Devey

Abstract

The majority of South Africa's older population is income poor and lives in multigeneration households. Since the first democratically elected government came into power in 1994, South Africans have been promised 'a better life for all'. A range of policies and programmes has been implemented to improve the living standards and quality of life of the poor. The article asks how the older poor have benefited from government interventions in the period 1995-8. Drawing on data compiled from Statistics South Africa's household surveys in 1995 and 1998 (n=20 000-30 000 households), a set of over 35 objective and subjective indicators broken down by income and younger and older households is reviewed. Older households include at least one member over 60 years of age. Results show that access to services and opportunities improves systematically from poor to rich households. Major material gains for the poor and older households during the review period include access to clean water, electricity and home ownership. Older poor households with better access to services and opportunities are more likely to express overall satisfaction with their living circumstances. The study concludes that the most effective mechanism for poverty alleviation appears to be the non-contributory, means-tested state old-age pension, which lifts some households out of the most disadvantaged bottom income group. Policies under discussion promise further opportunities for empowering poor households with older members.

Suggested Citation

  • Valerie Møller & Richard Devey, 2003. "Trends in living conditions and satisfaction among poorer older South Africans: objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the October Household Survey," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(4), pages 457-476.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:20:y:2003:i:4:p:457-476
    DOI: 10.1080/0376835032000124475
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Valerie Møller, 2007. "Satisfied and dissatisfied South Africans: results from the General Household Survey in international comparison," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 81(2), pages 389-415, April.
    2. David Lam & Murray Leibbrandt & Vimal Ranchhod, 2005. "Labour force withdrawal of the elderly in South Africa," SALDRU/CSSR Working Papers 118, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    3. Oludele Akinloye Akinboade & Emilie Chanceline Kinfack & Mandisa Putuma Mokwena, 2012. "An analysis of citizen satisfaction with public service delivery in the Sedibeng district municipality of South Africa," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 39(3), pages 182-199, February.
    4. Aarón Salinas-Rodríguez & Ma Del Pilar Torres-Pereda & Betty Manrique-Espinoza & Karla Moreno-Tamayo & Martha María Téllez-Rojo Solís, 2014. "Impact of the Non-Contributory Social Pension Program 70 y más on Older Adults’ Mental Well-Being," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(11), pages 1-10, November.
    5. Chengedzai Mafini & Daniel Francois Meyer, 2016. "Satisfaction with Life Amongst the Urban Poor: Empirical Results from South Africa," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 12(5), pages 33-50, OCTOBER.
    6. Schatz, Enid & Ogunmefun, Catherine, 2007. "Caring and Contributing: The Role of Older Women in Rural South African Multi-generational Households in the HIV/AIDS Era," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1390-1403, August.
    7. Valerie Møller, 2013. "South African Quality of Life Trends Over Three Decades, 1980–2010," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 113(3), pages 915-940, September.
    8. Lauren Graham & Eleanor Ross, 2016. "Disparities in Quality of Life Among South Africans With and Without Disabilities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 721-739, June.
    9. Lungile Ntsalaze & Sylvanus Ikhide, 2018. "Rethinking Dimensions: The South African Multidimensional Poverty Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(1), pages 195-213, January.
    10. Schatz, Enid & Gómez-Olivé, Xavier & Ralston, Margaret & Menken, Jane & Tollman, Stephen, 2012. "The impact of pensions on health and wellbeing in rural South Africa: Does gender matter?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(10), pages 1864-1873.
    11. Valerie Møller & Sarah Radloff, 2013. "Perceptions of Fortune and Misfortune in Older South African Households: Social Assistance and the ‘Good Life’," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 111(3), pages 633-664, May.
    12. Chengedzai Mafini, 2017. "Economic Factors and Life Satisfaction: Trends from South African Communities," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 13(3), pages 155-168, JUNE.
    13. Stephanié Rossouw & Wim Naudé, 2008. "The Non-Economic Quality of Life on a Sub-National Level in South Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 86(3), pages 433-452, May.

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