Coexisting Disadvantages during the Life Course and Late Life Social Exclusion

Francesca Zanasi , Florence University
Elena Pirani, Florence University
Gustavo De Santis, University of Florence

In this paper we analyze how coexisting and persistent disadvantages in various life domains experienced earlier in life (youth and adulthood) structure the condition of social exclusion in one’s late age, specifically focusing on two dimensions, social and material deprivation. Life outcomes are shaped by experiences and resources acquired earlier in the biography of individuals. This process may lead to an accumulation and persistence of disadvantages throughout the life course, entailing a lack of resources necessary to cope with the challenges arising with ageing and finally to social exclusion in later life. Exploiting the longitudinal information included in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we investigate the appearance and persistence of coexisting disadvantages during one’s life course. We extend the analysis by taking into account possible gender and cross-country differences. We found that for both social and material deprivation elderly women are more deprived than men, and the more the disadvantages cumulated and coexisting during the life course, the more materially deprived individuals are in late life. We will also scrutinize differences in social/material deprivation depending on the country of residence. Specifically, we expect that previous life course disadvantage is especially related to deprivation in the countries where the welfare system is particularly unbalanced in favor of some specific population segments (e.g., the elderly) and disregards other phases of life, for instance young and adulthood.

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 Presented in Session 109. Economic and Emotional Well-being across the Life Course