Population Aging: How Should It Be Measured?

Jeroen Spijker; John MacInnes; Tim Riffe

Population Aging: How Should It Be Measured?

Jeroen Spijker, John MacInnes, Tim Riffe

School of Social and Political Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

The standard indicator of population aging is the old-age dependency ratio (OADR). Despite lower levels in the US than in other high-income countries its continuous increase has increased policy makers’ concern. However, the OADR is not ‘fit for purpose’, as it counts neither the dependent elderly nor those who sustain them. It merely takes a cut-off point (the state pension age) and assigns adults to the two sides of the ratio accordingly. We propose several alternative measures that give a more accurate but different account.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Population Association of America Annual Meeting
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2014
Event	Population Association of America Annual Meeting - Princeton, Boston, United Kingdom Duration: 1 May 2014 → 3 May 2014

Conference

Conference	Population Association of America Annual Meeting
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Boston
Period	1/05/14 → 3/05/14

Access to Document

Spijker_et al 2014PAApaper
© Spijker, J., MacInnes, J., & Riffe, T. (2014). Population Aging: How Should It Be Measured?. In Population Association of America Annual Meeting.
Submitted manuscript, 453 KB

http://paa2014.princeton.edu/sessions/223

ES/K004611/1
MacInnes, J. & Spijker, J.
ESRC
1/10/12 → 31/03/14
Project: Research

Cite this

@inproceedings{34b3beff1f2b49deaacf24e65a4b5702,

title = "Population Aging: How Should It Be Measured?",

abstract = "The standard indicator of population aging is the old-age dependency ratio (OADR). Despite lower levels in the US than in other high-income countries its continuous increase has increased policy makers{\textquoteright} concern. However, the OADR is not {\textquoteleft}fit for purpose{\textquoteright}, as it counts neither the dependent elderly nor those who sustain them. It merely takes a cut-off point (the state pension age) and assigns adults to the two sides of the ratio accordingly. We propose several alternative measures that give a more accurate but different account. ",

author = "Jeroen Spijker and John MacInnes and Tim Riffe",

year = "2014",

month = may,

day = "1",

language = "English",

booktitle = "Population Association of America Annual Meeting",

note = "Population Association of America Annual Meeting ; Conference date: 01-05-2014 Through 03-05-2014",