Determinants of the Quality of Life of Elderly during Demographic Transitions of Population Giants: China and India

Abstract

The paper addresses the Quality of Life (QoL) of elderly people during demographic transitions of population giants. Focusing on India and China, this study analyses nature of data of aged people and compares the determining factors of QoL of elderly people of both nations. Using Global Survey data this study estimates ordinal models and identify the major determining factors of quality of life of elderly people of emerging giant China and India. Perceived quality of life of elderly people in India and China mainly vary due to sex, age, education, social cohesions, mood, co-morbidity, and level of family income. Negative mood index is higher in India than China. Cohabiting with spouse, higher levels of education and age progression have significant positive impact on QoL in China. Tendency in perceiving good QoL among female elderly in China increases with age, unlike India; and it is the dominant perception of QoL for both men and women above the approximate age of 68. Chinese elderly, cohabiting with spouse, mostly reported good QoL and the probability increases with age. Irrespective of country, probability of perceiving good QoL dominates with advancement in old age and greater the level of education.

Keywords: Aging, Mood, Quality of Life, QoL, Social Cohesion, Co-Morbidity, Mood, Cohabit, Gender, China, India, Demographic Transition

JEL Classification: J14, I31, D71, J16