The Persistence of Hardship Over the Life Course

The Levy Economics Institute Working Paper No. 367

40 Pages Posted: 15 Apr 2003

See all articles by Thomas L. Hungerford

Thomas L. Hungerford

National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI); Independent

Date Written: December 2002

Abstract

This paper focuses on the persistence of hardship from middle age to old age. Proposed status maintenance models suggest that stratification of economic status occurs over the life course (e.g., little mobility is seen within the income distribution). Some studies have found evidence to support this, but none have looked at broader measures of well-being. Using 29 years (1968-96) of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the author employs hypothesis tests (t-tests) and logistic regression techniques to examine the relationship between middle-age chronic hardships and adverse old-age outcomes. In almost every case, individuals who experience middle-age chronic hardships are significantly (statistically) more likely to experience adverse old-age outcomes.

Keywords: poverty, hardship, quality of life

JEL Classification: I31, J10

Suggested Citation

Hungerford, Thomas L., The Persistence of Hardship Over the Life Course (December 2002). The Levy Economics Institute Working Paper No. 367, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=386964 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.386964

Thomas L. Hungerford (Contact Author)

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