A Comparative Study on the Adequacy of Income Distribution for the Aged in OECD Countries

Abstract

This paper aims to find the adequate resource distribution for old-age population from the perspective of inter-generational equity and intra-generational equality. Therefore, by analyzing LIS raw data, on the viewpoint of the final resource distribution, the fairness of resource distribution between elderly groups and working age groups in countries, the unfairness among income bracket within elderly groups and the unfairness of resource distribution among genders were assessed from the perspective of cross-national comparison. Also, the types of resource distribution to elderlies were classified based on 4 standards as above. As a result, the average level of resource distribution in elderly groups compared to working age groups was 74%, and Cluster 1 (Norway, Sweden, Eastern European Countries) displayed the most ideal characteristic of resource distribution which considers both resource efficiency and effectiveness. As Cluster 1 showed the lowest poverty ratio of elderlies and the income inequality among elderly groups, it assured the effectiveness while it was ranked on the third in the ratio of resource distribution to elderly groups compared to working age groups proving that it is relatively efficiently distributing resources.