Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/28068
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
Diskussionsbeiträge No. 2008/4
Publisher: 
Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Berlin
Abstract: 
We employ German Sample Survey Income data to examine income inequality and the financial situation of elderly citizens for the period from 1978 to 2003, focussing on differences between retired and non-retired elderly and between elderly with residence in the Old and the New German Laender. Inter-temporal changes in income inequality are also decomposed by income sources. To our knowledge, this is the first study that provides comparable and detailed longitudinal income statistics for the German elderly. We find some remarkable inter-temporal patterns. First, the financial situation of the elderly has improved substantially over time. This is true especially for the New Laender, although elderly with residence in the Old Laender remain financially privileged. Within the same age cohort, we also find that non-retired, on average, are financially better-off compared to retired elderly. For reunified Germany, inequality is astonishingly stable over time, but rises significantly since 1993 in the New German Laender.
Subjects: 
Pensioner
Inequality
Inequality Decomposition
German Sample Survey Income data
JEL: 
D31
H31
H55
J14
ISBN: 
3938369752
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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