Low Income amongst the Older Population in Great Britain: A Rural/Non-rural Perspective on Income Levels and Dynamics

Abstract

Philip L. J. and Gilbert A. (2007) Low income amongst the older population in Great Britain: a rural/non-rural perspective on income levels and dynamics, Regional Studies 41, 735–745. Great Britain's population is ageing. Income levels are an important element of quality of life in retirement. This paper utilizes income data from the British Household Panel Survey to explore income levels and dynamics amongst older people living in non-rural, accessible rural and remote rural areas. Analysis shows clear geographical variations. Average household incomes of the over 65s in remote rural areas are less than those of their non-rural and accessible rural counterparts, and older people living in remote rural areas are the most likely to experience persistent low income.

Philip L. J. et Gilbert A. (2007) Le faible revenu parmi les personnes plus âgées en Grande-Bretagne: un aperçu rural/non-rural sur les niveaux et la dynamique de revenu, Regional Studies 41, 735–745. La population de la Grande-Bretagne vieillit. Le niveau de revenu constitue un élément clé de la qualité de la vie au moment de la retraite. Cet article se sert des données sur les revenus qui proviennent de la British Household Panel Survey (enquête permanente menée en Grande-Bretagne auprès des ménages) afin d'examiner le niveau et la dynamique de revenu parmi les personnes plus âgées habitant les zones non-rurales, les zones rurales accessibles et les zones rurales isolées. L'analyse laisse voir des variations géographiques nettes. Dans les zones rurales isolées, le revenu ménager moyen des personnes âgées de plus de 65 ans s'avère inférieur à celui de leurs homologues habitant les zones non-rurales et les zones rurales accessibles, et il est le plus probable que les personnes plus âgées habitant les zones rurales isolées touchent régulièrement un faible revenu.

Grande-Bretagne Personnes plus âgées Faible revenu Rural/non-rural Variations Dynamique de revenu

Philip L. J. und Gilbert A. (2007) Geringes Einkommen unter Senioren in Großbritannien: eine ländliche/nicht ländliche Perspektive der Einkommensniveaus und Dynamik, Regional Studies 41, 735–745. Großbritanniens Bevölkerung altert. Das Einkommensniveau ist ein wichtiges Element der Lebensqualität im Rentenalter. In diesem Beitrag werden anhand von Daten des British Household Panel Survey Einkommensniveaus und Dynamik von Senioren untersucht, die in nicht ländlichen Gebieten, in ländlichen Gebieten mit Verkehrsanbindung sowie in abgelegenen ländlichen Gebieten wohnen. Bei unserer Analyse ergeben sich klare geografische Abweichungen. Das durchschnittliche Haushaltseinkommen der über 65-Jährigen in abgelegenen ländlichen Gebieten liegt unter dem der Menschen in nicht ländlichen Gebieten und in ländlichen Gebieten mit Verkehrsanbindung; ebenso ist bei Senioren in abgelegenen ländlichen Gebieten die Wahrscheinlichkeit am höchsten, dass sie kontinuierlich ein geringes Einkommen beziehen.

Großbritannien Senioren Niedriges Einkommen Abweichungen zwischen ländlichen und nicht ländlichen Gebieten Einkommensdynamik

Philip L. J. y Gilbert A. (2007) Ingresos bajos entre la población anciana de Gran Bretaña: comparación de niveles y dinámicas de ingresos en zonas rurales y no rurales, Regional Studies 41, 735–745. La población de Gran Bretaña está envejeciendo. Los niveles de ingresos constituyen un elemento importante para la calidad de vida en la jubilación. En este ensayo utilizamos los datos de ingresos a partir de los datos del panel británico BHPS (British Household Panel Survey) para analizar los niveles y las dinámicas de ingresos entre la población anciana que vive en zonas no rurales, en zonas rurales accesibles y en regiones rurales remotas. Nuestro análisis indica claras variaciones geográficas. Los ingresos medios por familia de personas mayores de 65 años en zonas rurales remotas son menores que los de las personas que viven en zonas no rurales y zonas rurales accesibles y la gente mayor que vive en zonas rurales remotas tiene más probabilidades de recibir continuamente bajos ingresos.

Gran Bretaña Ancianos Bajos ingresos Variaciones en zonas rurales y no rurales Dinámicas de ingresos

Keywords:

• Great Britain
• Older people
• Low income
• Rural/non-rural
• Variations
• Income dynamics

Acknowledgements

This paper develops part of a research project funded by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Division. Nick Buck added the rural identifiers that enabled the analysis reported in this paper to be conducted. The authors wish to thank Euan Phimister for his constructive comments on earlier drafts of this work.

Notes

1. The paper focuses on Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). The BHPS did not include a Northern Ireland sample in waves 1–6, and for consistency the present paper did not use the Northern Ireland sample for waves 7–9.

2. Note that pensionable age describes those who have reached the age at which the state retirement pension is payable, currently 60 for women and 65 for men. Retirement age refers to the age at which one retires, which may be anywhere from the early 50s onwards.

3. The BHPS data reported in this paper drew upon a sample of all individuals in the survey aged 15 and over for whom a rural/non-rural identifier could be obtained and for whom there was information on household income. Following standard practice, those interviewed by telephone or by proxy were excluded from the sample. Tables 2–5 are based on all individuals present in the 1999 wave of the BHPS who met all the above criteria. The sample for Tables 6 and 7 are based on the above criteria and the additional requirement that the individuals were present in all nine waves of data analysed. Age is classified as age at the time of interview; and analysis over time is restricted to those who have not changed area type over the relevant period.

4. The division of rural areas into ‘remote’ and ‘accessible’ areas is one way of acknowledging that rural areas are not homogeneous. This approach is common in rural policy with, for example, DEFRA and the Scottish Executive using (different) accessibility measures to classify different types of rural area. Meaningful analysis of data on rural and non-rural areas within regions was not possible due to sample size issues.

5. The BHPS does contain separate information about savings, but the information was requested in 1995 and in 2000, while the cross-section examined herein is from 1999.

6. The supplied longitudinal weights are used to take account of respondents lost to the sample through time.