International migration and health inequalities in later life

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 935-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
DONATELLA LANARI ◽  
ODOARDO BUSSINI
Keyword(s):  
Later Life ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Linear Pattern ◽  
Nativity Status ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Socio Economic Variables ◽  
Using Data

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to ascertain the existence of differences in self-perceived health and depression between immigrants and native-born populations aged 50 years and older living in Western and Northern European countries. We examine the effect of country of origin, length of time in the host country and citizenship on the health of adults, using data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). As the logistic regressions reveal, some immigrant groups are more likely to perceive worse self-rated health and to suffer from depression than native-born groups, even when demographic and socio-economic variables are taken into account. In particular, people born in Eastern Europe living in Germany, France and Sweden have the highest odds ratio of poor health with respect to natives. Nativity status, duration and citizenship clearly contribute towards explaining health differences which are shown to vary significantly across countries. Furthermore, the perception of poor health rises as the length of stay increases, although a non-linear pattern was found. Results indicate that greater efforts by policy makers are needed in order to improve the health of specific middle-aged and older groups of immigrants in Europe.

scholarly journals The Education of Family Members and Older Adult Cognitive Health: Differences Across Racial Groups

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 522-522
Author(s):  
Sindhu Vasireddy ◽  
Jenjira Yahirun ◽  
Mark Hayward
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Cognitive Health ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Education is a strong predictor of cognitive health among older adults, and recent research indicates that apart from one’s own education, the educational resources of family members also play a crucial role in shaping cognitive health over the life course. We add to this literature by investigating whether the advantages of highly educated family members matter for both Blacks and Whites in the U.S. Specifically, we ask whether the resources of family members-parents and offspring-partially explain the racial gap in both the prevalence and incidence of cognitive health across both groups. For this, we employ logistic regression models to examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment at baseline, and discrete-time event history models to assess the incidence of cognitive impairment, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) for the years ranging from 2000 to 2012. Preliminary results indicate that at the baseline, respondent’s own education is predictive of cognitive impairment among Whites, but not Blacks. Once respondent-level health conditions and behaviors are taken into consideration, parental or offspring education is not associated with the prevalence of cognitive impairment. For respondents who are not impaired at the baseline, our results from the incidence models align with the “adjacent generations” literature suggesting that both parental and offspring education has a salient positive effect on later-life cognitive health. However, we find notable differences across groups to suggest that the education of parents and offspring may play a larger role in mitigating cognitive decline among African Americans, compared to Whites.

scholarly journals Small firms and the COVID-19 insolvency gap

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Oliver Dörr ◽  
Georg Licht ◽  
Simona Murmann
Keyword(s):  
Financial Distress ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
English Summary ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Policy Response ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Large Wave ◽  
Using Data

AbstractCOVID-19 placed a special role on fiscal policy in rescuing companies short of liquidity from insolvency. In the first months of the crisis, SMEs as the backbone of Germany’s economy benefited from large and mainly indiscriminate aid measures. Avoiding business failures in a whatever-it-takes fashion contrasts, however, with the cleansing mechanism of economic crises: a mechanism which forces unviable firms out of the market, thereby reallocating resources efficiently. By focusing on firms’ pre-crisis financial standing, we estimate the extent to which the policy response induced an insolvency gap and analyze whether the gap is characterized by firms which were already struggling before the pandemic. With the policy measures being focused on smaller firms, we also examine whether this insolvency gap differs with respect to firm size. Our results show that the COVID-19 policy response in Germany has triggered a backlog of insolvencies that is particularly pronounced among financially weak, small firms, having potential long-term implications on entrepreneurship and economic recovery.Plain English Summary This study analyzes the extent to which the strong policy support to companies in the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis has prevented a large wave of corporate insolvencies. Using data of about 1.5 million German companies, it is shown that it was mainly smaller firms that experienced strong financial distress and would have gone bankrupt without policy assistance. In times of crises, insolvencies usually allow for a reallocation of employees and capital to more efficient firms. However, the analysis reveals that this ‘cleansing effect’ is hampered in the current crisis as the largely indiscriminate granting of liquidity subsidies and the temporary suspension of the duty to file for insolvency have caused an insolvency gap that is driven by firms which were already in a weak financial position before the crisis. Overall, the insolvency gap is estimated to affect around 25,000 companies, a substantial number compared to the around 16,300 actual insolvencies in 2020. In the ongoing crisis, policy makers should prefer instruments favoring entrepreneurs who respond innovatively to the pandemic instead of prolonging the survival of near-insolvent firms.

scholarly journals Testing Common Knowledge: Are Northern Europeans and Millennials More Concerned about the Environment?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Cristina Gómez-Román ◽  
Maria Luisa Lima ◽  
Gloria Seoane ◽  
Mónica Alzate ◽  
Marcos Dono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Generation X ◽  
Common Knowledge ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Common Belief ◽  
Environmentally Conscious ◽  
Personal Norms ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
North And South

This study explores whether there are differences in several environmental dimensions, when the European Region and Generation cohort are considered. In doing so, this study compares millennials in North and South Europe with members of Generation X in three environmental dimensions: attitudes, personal norms, and behavior. Using data from the European Social Survey (n = 6.216), the researchers tested the hypothesis that Northern Europeans and millennials have more pro-environmental standing than southerners and Generation Xers. The findings challenge the common belief that millennials are more committed to being environmentally conscious, showing that many millennials do not feel responsible for their climate footprint, nor do they behave in a way that shows more concern than previous generations to improve their environmental performance. Furthermore, contrary to expectations, Northern European participants are not the most committed, in all environmental dimensions, compared to Southern Europeans.

Labour market disadvantage or poor health upon arrival? An examination of the native–immigrant gap in early retirement on a disability pension

2021 ◽  
pp. 000169932110228
Author(s):  
Jeevitha Yogachandiran Qvist ◽  
Hans-Peter Y Qvist
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Early Retirement ◽  
Register Data ◽  
Labour Markets ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Health Differences ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity ◽  
Advanced Capitalist

Non-Western immigrants in Scandinavia have a higher risk of early retirement on a disability pension than natives, but the reasons are unclear. One theory is that increased demands for standardization, efficiency and productivity in advanced capitalist labour markets, such as the Scandinavian market, cause expulsion of the weakest and least qualified individuals from the labour market, including a disproportionate share of non-Western immigrants. Another theory is that non-Western immigrants already have poorer health than natives upon arrival in Scandinavia. This article examines the extent to which the native–immigrant gap in early retirement on a disability pension is explained by non-Western immigrants’ disadvantaged position in the labour market when pre-existing health differences are controlled for. To this end, we draw on Danish register data, including all disability pensions granted in 2003–2012 to natives and non-Western immigrants who arrived in Denmark in 1998. Our results suggest that a minor proportion of the native–immigrant gap in disability pensions is explained by non-Western immigrants’ health upon arrival, whereas the vast majority of the gap is explained by non-Western immigrants’ disadvantaged position in the labour market.

Let’s Drink to Being Socially Active: Family Characteristics, Social Participation, and Alcohol Abuse across Mid- and Later-life

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-469
Author(s):  
Eric M. Vogelsang ◽  
Joseph T. Lariscy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Alcohol Abuse ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Marital Dissolution ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Linked Lives ◽  
Using Data

Researchers and practitioners often extol the health benefits of social relationships and social participation for older adults. Yet they often ignore how these same bonds and activities may contribute to negative health behaviors. Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (16,065 observations from 7,007 respondents), we examined how family characteristics, family history, and social participation predicted three measures of alcohol abuse between ages 53 and 71. Results indicate that, generally, greater social participation is associated with increased drinking days per month. We also found that religious participation and having ever lived with an alcoholic are each associated with reporting possible alcohol dependence but not with alcohol consumption itself. Lastly, we identified gendered associations between marital dissolution and drinking behavior. These findings contextualize the increasing rates of alcohol abuse among older adults by emphasizing the possible negative consequences of “linked lives” on health via relationship stress and group norms.

The digital divide in individual e-commerce utilization in China

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizhan Zhu ◽  
Juan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Urban Inequality ◽  
First Order ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
Residency Status ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
And Migration

Using data from a national survey with 1,288 respondents, this study investigates the socio-demographic determinants of the first-order digital divide (access to the Internet) and the second-order digital divide (e-commerce use) in China. The survey employed spatial probability sampling technology so it would encompass migrants as well as registered residents. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to model the associations between access to the Internet/e-commerce use and demographic characteristics, socio-economic attributes, and migration and residency status. The results demonstrate the significant effects of rural-urban inequality and socio-economic divisions in Internet access. Age, gender, education, and residency were identified as significant predictors for individual e-commerce use. The findings provide helpful information for enterprises wishing to broaden their business horizons. The research can also be used in designing effective policies to reduce China’s digital inequality.

scholarly journals Measuring when Uber behaves as a substitute or complement to transit: An examination of travel-time differences in Toronto

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mischa Young ◽  
Jeff Allen ◽  
Steven Farber
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Gap Filling ◽  
Service Levels ◽  
Transit Service ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The City

Policymakers in cities worldwide are trying to determine how ride-hailing services affect the ridership of traditional forms of public transportation. The level of convenience and comfort that these services provide is bound to take riders away from transit, but by operating in areas, or at times, when transit is less frequent, they may also be filling a gap left vacant by transit operations. These contradictory effects reveal why we should not merely categorize all ride-hailing services as a substitute or supplement to transit, and demonstrate the need to examine ride-hailing trips individually. Using data from the 2016 Transportation Tomorrow Survey in Toronto, we investigate the differences in travel-times between observed ride-hailing trips and their fastest transit alternatives. Ordinary least squares and ordered logistic regressions are used to uncover the characteristics that influence travel-time differences. We find that ride-hailing trips contained within the City of Toronto, pursued during peak hours, or for shopping purposes, are more likely to have transit alternatives of similar duration. Also, we find differences in travel-time often to be caused by transfers and lengthy walk- and wait-times for transit. Our results further indicate that 31% of ride-hailing trips in our sample have transit alternatives of similar duration (≤ 15 minute difference). These are particularly damaging for transit agencies as they compete directly with services that fall within reasonable expectations of transit service levels. We also find that 27% of ride-hailing trips would take at least 30 minutes longer by transit, evidence for significant gap-filling opportunity of ride-hailing services. In light of these findings, we discuss recommendations for ride-hailing taxation structures.

scholarly journals Adoption of Natural Gas Vehicles – Estimates for the U.S. and the State of Texas

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen (Sarah) Xu ◽  
Liang-Chieh (Victor) Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Diffusion Models ◽  
The State ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Fuel Taxes ◽  
Natural Gas Vehicles ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The U.S

Natural gas vehicles (NGV) have attracted more and more attention from policy makers since natural gas is a clean substitute for traditional fossil fuel that is also readily accessible. In some areas such as the state of Texas, vehicles that do not use traditional fossil fuel (e.g., NGVs) are exempt from paying fuel taxes. Government financial incentives have motivated substantial adoption of NGVs. This paper studies NGV adoption behavior in both U.S. and Texas markets to estimate the dynamics of NGV diffusion. This research employs well-known Bass diffusion models applied to NGV adoption, using data from both the U.S. and Texas. Among several interesting results, we find that NGV adoption through an imitation effect appears to be significant for the U.S. NGV market.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and Associated Factors in Brazilian Undergraduates during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Bruna Leal Lima Maciel ◽  
Clélia de Oliveira Lyra ◽  
Jéssica Raissa Carlos Gomes ◽  
Priscilla Moura Rolim ◽  
Bartira Mendes Gorgulho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Skin Color ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Black Skin ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Socio Economic Variables

Undergraduates may face challenges to assure food security, related to economic and mental distress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess food insecurity and its associated factors in undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2020 to February 2021 with 4775 undergraduates from all Brazilian regions. The questionnaire contained socio-economic variables, the validated Brazilian food insecurity scale, and the ESQUADA scale to assess diet quality. The median age of the students was 22.0 years, and 48.0% reported income decreasing with the pandemic. Food insecurity was present in 38.6% of the students, 4.5% with severe food insecurity and 7.7% moderate. Logistic regressions showed students with brown and black skin color/race presented the highest OR for food insecurity; both income and weight increase or reduction during the pandemic was also associated with a higher OR for food insecurity, and better diet quality was associated with decreased OR for food insecurity. Our study showed a considerable presence of food insecurity in undergraduates. Policy for this population must be directed to the most vulnerable: those with brown and black skin color/race, who changed income during the pandemic, and those presented with difficulties maintaining weight and with poor diet quality.

scholarly journals Assessment of socio-economic factors affecting the utilization of manual screw press for gari production in Kwara state, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Adegbola A. Jacob ◽  
Wegh F. Shagbaor ◽  
Ikwuba A. Agbanugo ◽  
Nwafor S. Chimela
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Screw Press ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Economic Determinants ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Socio Economic Variables ◽  
Level Of Experience ◽  
Structured Questionnaire ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

This study investigated socio-economic determinants of utilization of manual screw press for cassava mash dehydration for gari production in four local government areas across the ADP zones in Kwara state, Nigeria. Using random sampling technique and a semi-structured questionnaire as a research instrument, data for the study were collected from a sample of three hundred and eighty-four (384) gari processors who use the screw press in the state. Multiple regression analysis shows that a correlation (R=0.678) exist between utilization of the screw press and the independent variables which include age, household size, level of education, years of processing experience, extension visits, and income from gari processing. R2 value of 0.460 indicates that about 46% of the variation in utilization was explained by socio-economic variables included in the regression model. Three variables significantly influenced the decision of the respondents to utilize the manual screw press: age, level of experience, and income; the most important predicator being income with a Beta value of 0.699. Conclusively, it was recommended among others that research, extension, and policy makers consider the significant determinants identified in the study seriously if increased utilization is to be achieved by gari processors and others similar to them in the study area and the region.

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