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Inequality in old age cognition across the world

Author

Listed:
  • Olivera, Javier
  • Andreoli, Francesco
  • Leist, Anja K.
  • Chauvel, Louis
Abstract
Although cohort and country differences in average cognitive levels are well established, identifying the degree and determinants of inequalities in old age cognitive functioning could guide public health and policymaking efforts. We use all publicly available and representative old age surveys with comparable information to assess inequalities of cognitive functioning for six distinctive age groups in 29 countries. We document that cognitive inequalities in old age are largely determined by earlier educational inequalities as well as gender differential survival rates. For example, a one percentage point increase in the Gini index of past education is associated with an increase of 0.45 percentage points in the Gini index of delayed recall and 0.23 percentage points in the Gini of immediate recall. Results are robust to a variety of alternative explanations and persist even after controlling for gender-related biases in survival rates. Furthermore, we find evidence that unequal opportunities for education −captured by differences in parental background and gender- also have significant effects on inequality of old age cognition.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivera, Javier & Andreoli, Francesco & Leist, Anja K. & Chauvel, Louis, 2018. "Inequality in old age cognition across the world," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 179-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:29:y:2018:i:c:p:179-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2018.03.002
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    2. Aaberge, Rolf & Peluso, Eugenio & Sigstad, Henrik, 2019. "The dual approach for measuring multidimensional deprivation: Theory and empirical evidence," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 1-1.
    3. R. Rupeika-Apoga & I. Romanova & L. Bule & Y.E. Thalassinos, 2019. "The Impact of Population Ageing and Social Stratification: The Case of Latvia," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(1), pages 49-63.
    4. Giovanni Maria Giorgi, 2019. "The Gini concentration ratio: Back to the future," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 73(2), pages 5-14, April-Jun.
    5. Olivera, Javier, 2023. "A distributive analysis using Peru’s National Transfer Accounts," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognition functioning; Inequality; Old age; Education; Inequality of opportunity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination

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