scholarly journals A woman’s cause? Popular attitudes towards pension credits for childcare in Norway

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-261
Author(s):  
Sigtona Halrynjo ◽  
Ragni Hege Kitterød ◽  
Axel West Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
Political Debates ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Work Family

In many countries – including Norway – concerns about the persistent gender gap in pensions have led to the introduction of child credits that compensate mothers for losing accrued pension rights while they care for small children. In political debates child credits are typically framed as being unequivocally women-friendly. But, although they help to reduce the gender gap in pension income, they tend to discourage mothers’ paid work and favour couples with a gendered division of paid and unpaid work. This article uses survey data to investigate the extent to which the working age population in Norway supports the idea that parents (mothers) of pre-school children with low earnings should be compensated by the pension system. We examine whether the pattern of support is consistently gendered or whether there are internal cleavages among men and women according to socio-economic status and work-family adaptation. We find that, although both genders express positive attitudes, women are on average more inclined to support child credits than men, but with strong internal divisions. While less-educated women in families with a traditional division of labour constitute the most supportive group, highly-educated women in gender-equal families are as sceptical towards child credits as their male peers. Surprisingly, among both genders, we find that younger cohorts are as supportive as older cohorts.

Gender Inequalities: Sidelined in British Pension Policy

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Ginn
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The State ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
Pension Policy ◽  
Private Pensions ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
Working Age ◽  
State Pension

According to the Pensions Commission in its first report, the state pension system in Britain is among the least generous in the developed world. This reflects the explicit aim of both Conservative and New Labour governments since 1980 to reduce the share of pensions provided by the state and increase that provided by the private sector. This policy has reinforced the gender gap in pensions. Despite recent acknowledgement by the government's pensions minister that women's pensions are ‘a national scandal’, there is no sign of a radical shift in policy which is needed to remedy that situation. This chapter outlines the gender gap in later life income, showing how private pensions shape gender inequality in different ways based on women's marital status. It also examines gender differences in working-age individuals' employment, earnings, and private (occupational or personal) pension scheme membership, focusing on the impact of motherhood on women's position. Moreover, it considers alternative ways of protecting the pension income of carers and assesses the Pensions Commission's 2005 proposals in terms of women's pension needs.

scholarly journals Closing the gender gap in pensions: A microsimulation analysis of the Norwegian NDC pension system

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elin Halvorsen ◽  
Axel West Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Pension System ◽  
Personal Income ◽  
Defined Contribution ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
System A ◽  
Actuarial Fairness ◽  
Annual Earnings ◽  
Pension Benefits

In this article, we use an advanced microsimulation model to study the distributional effects of the reformed Norwegian pension system with a particular focus on gender equality. The reformed Norwegian system is based on the notional defined contribution (NDC)-formula with fixed contribution/accrual rates over the active life-phase and with accumulated pension wealth being transformed into an annuity upon retirement. A number of redistributive components are built into the system: a unisex annuity divisor, a ceiling on annual earnings, generous child credits, a possibility for widows/widowers to inherit pension rights from a deceased spouse, a targeted guarantee pensions with higher benefit rates to single pensioners compared to married/cohabitating pensioners, and finally a tax system that is particularly progressive in its treatment of pensioners and pension income. Taking complete actuarial fairness as the point of departure, we conduct a stepwise analysis to investigate how these different components of the National Insurance pension system impact on the gender gap in pensions and on general (Gini) inequality in the distribution of pension income within a cohort of pensioners. Our analysis concentrates on one birth cohort – individuals born in 1963 – and we study three different outcomes: the distribution of annual pensions early in retirement (at age 70), the distribution of the total sum of pension benefits received over retirement, and the distribution of the average annual pension benefits received over the retirement phase. In addition, we look at three alternative income concepts. These are personal income, equivalised household income, and finally an original income concept developed for this study: personal income adjusted for the economies of scale enjoyed by couple households.

Population Ageing and Financing Consumption of the Older Generation in the European Union

2021 ◽  
pp. 395-427
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak
Keyword(s):  
Gender Gap ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Ageing ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pension Systems ◽  
Pension Income ◽  
Public Transfers ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Lifetime Earnings ◽  
Private Transfers

European countries are facing the challenge of population ageing, and social policies need to adjust to changing intergenerational balance. In this chapter, the most important challenges in the current intergenerational and intragenerational balance are assessed using the National Transfer Accounts approach. Financing the lifecycle deficit of older generations is mainly based on public transfers, while in the case of younger generations it is mainly financed from private transfers. The working-age generation faces a ‘triple burden’ as it finances the lifecycle deficit of older generations by paid taxes and the consumption of the young generation by private transfers. They also need to save more to be able to finance their future consumption to a larger extent from their savings. Recent policy developments show that the pressure of an increase of pension expenditure caused by demographic changes is offset by reducing pension transfers by changing benefit formulae or benefit indexation as well as increasing the effective pensionable age. The span of effective economic activity is relatively short, particularly for women. A gender gap in labor income is also linked to a gender gap in the pension income, which leads to further transfers between men and women at older ages. Income inequalities between older people increase following reforms of pension systems that tighten the link between lifetime earnings and pensions. Mortality differences interact with government programmes for the elderly (e.g., pension systems) and may reduce or even reverse the direction of income redistribution.

Bina Agarwal. A Field of One's Own: Gender and Land Rights in South Asia. Cambridge, UKlNew Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 1994. 572pp.Hardbound.

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmeen Mohiuddin
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Land Rights ◽  
Economic Factor ◽  
Land Ownership ◽  
Cambridge University ◽  
Social Prestige ◽  
Innovative Solutions

A Field of One's Own is a pioneering study on gender and property in South Asia. It argues that the gender gap in 'effective' ownership of property is the 'single most important' economic factor in explaining gender inequities in South Asia, where land ownership is not only a symbol of economic status but also of social prestige and political power. The author explores the complex, and often unrecognised, reasons for this gender gap and suggests some innovative solutions.

scholarly journals Skilled Migrants in the Swedish Labour Market: An Analysis of Employment, Income and Occupational Status

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3428
Author(s):  
Nahikari Irastorza ◽  
Pieter Bevelander
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Skilled Immigrants ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Highly Skilled Migrants ◽  
Highly Skilled ◽  
Integration Of Immigrants ◽  
Employment Rates

In a globalised world with an increasing division of labour, the competition for highly skilled individuals—regardless of their origin—is growing, as is the value of such individuals for national economies. Yet the majority of studies analysing the economic integration of immigrants shows that those who are highly skilled also have substantial hurdles to overcome: their employment rates and salaries are lower and they face a higher education-to-occupation mismatch compared to highly skilled natives. This paper contributes to the paucity of studies on the employment patterns of highly skilled immigrants to Sweden by providing an overview of the socio-demographic characteristics, labour-market participation and occupational mobility of highly educated migrants in Sweden. Based on a statistical analysis of register data, we compare their employment rates, salaries and occupational skill level and mobility to those of immigrants with lower education and with natives. The descriptive analysis of the data shows that, while highly skilled immigrants perform better than those with a lower educational level, they never catch up with their native counterparts. Our regression analyses confirm these patterns for highly skilled migrants. Furthermore, we find that reasons for migration matter for highly skilled migrants’ employment outcomes, with labour migrants having better employment rates, income and qualification-matched employment than family reunion migrants and refugees.

scholarly journals Impacts of Dual-Income Household Rate on Suicide Mortalities in Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5670
Author(s):  
Misaki Nakamoto ◽  
Takatoshi Nakagawa ◽  
Masahiko Murata ◽  
Motohiro Okada
Keyword(s):  
Family Health ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Economy ◽  
Suicide Mortality ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Income Household ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Dual Income ◽  
Work Family

To explore impact of enhancing social advancement of females in Japan, this study determined the effects of the dual-income household rate on suicide mortalities disaggregated by attributes of gender, age, and motives between 2009 and 2017 in Japan. This study analysed impact of dual-income household rate, other household-related factors (savings, liabilities and yearly incomes per household, minors and elderly rate per household), and social/employment factors (complete unemployment rate, employment rate, temporary male and female employment rates and certification rate of long-term care insurance) on suicide mortalities disaggregated by attributes of gender, age, and motives using hierarchical linear-regression model. Dual-income household rate was significantly/negatively related to suicide mortality of the working-age female population, but significantly/positively related to that of the elderly female population. Suicide mortalities of the working-age male population and the elderly male population were significantly/positively related to dual-income household rate. Male suicide mortalities caused by family-, health-, economy- and employment-related motives were significantly/positively related to dual-income household rate; however, the dual-income household rate was significantly/positively related to female suicide mortalities caused by family-, health-, economy- and school-related motives, but significantly/negatively related to suicide mortalities caused by romance-related motives. Dual-income households suppress social-isolation and develop economical/psychological independence of females, leading to reduced suicide mortality in working-age females. However, elderly and school-age populations, who are supported by the working-age female, suffer from isolation. Working-age males also suffer from inability to adapt from the traditional concept of work–life and work–family balances to the novel work–family balance concept adapted to dual-income households. These results suggest occurrence of new social/family problems in the 21st century due to vulnerability of traditional Japanese culture and life–working–family balance concepts as well as novel sociofamilial disturbances induced by declining birth rate and ageing population in Japan.

Women entrepreneurs, individual and collective work–family interface strategies and emancipation

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise St-Arnaud ◽  
Émilie Giguère
Keyword(s):  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Work Organization ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Organization Of Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Collective Work ◽  
The Family ◽  
Work Family

Purpose This paper aims to examine the experience of women entrepreneurs and the challenges and issues they face in reconciling the work activities of the family sphere with those of the entrepreneurial sphere. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a materialist feminist perspective and a theory of living work that take into account the visible and invisible dimensions of the real work performed by women entrepreneurs. The methodology is based on a qualitative research design involving individual and group interviews conducted with 70 women entrepreneurs. Findings The results show the various individual and collective strategies deployed by women entrepreneurs to reconcile the work activities of the family and entrepreneurial spheres. Originality/value One of the major findings emerging from the results of this study relates to the re-appropriation of the world of work and organization of work by women entrepreneurs and its emancipatory potential for the division of labour. Through the authority and autonomy they possessed as business owners, and with their employees’ cooperation, they integrated and internalized tasks related to the work activities of the family sphere into the organization of work itself. Thus, not only new forms of work organization and cooperation at work but also new ways of conceiving of entrepreneurship as serving women’s life choices and emancipation could be seen to be emerging.

scholarly journals The Roots of the Obesity Boom. The Relationship Between Overweight and Educational Level Among Dutch Men, 1950–1979

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 124-129
Author(s):  
Björn Quanjer ◽  
Kristina Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Educational Level ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Historical Cohort ◽  
Lower Educational Level ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Economic Background ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
The Relationship

While in modern, high-income populations, obesity is associated with being from a low socio-economic background, this may not have always been the case. We test the relationship between obesity and educational level (as a proxy for socio-economic status) in a historical cohort of Dutch military conscripts, from the conscription years 1950–1979. We find that in the 1950s cohort, being in tertiary education was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being overweight. In contrast, in the 1970s cohort, being in tertiary education was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of being overweight. We find evidence that the prevalence of obesity remained broadly similar among more highly educated men, while it increased among men of a lower educational level. This likely contributed to the overall rise in the obesity rate. Our findings echo other studies that find a crossover in education’s relationship to BMI as populations become wealthier and obesity rates rise.

scholarly journals Are good knowledge and positive attitudes regarding the cigarettes and other tobacco products act prevalent among rural Indian adults?

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Pracheth R. ◽  
Varun N. ◽  
Ravindra Y. M. ◽  
Preethi S. ◽  
Tasmiya K. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Knowledge And Attitude ◽  
Study Participants

Background: Cigarettes and other tobacco products (COTPA) Act is a legislation passed to curb tobacco use in India by imposing restrictions on tobacco products. This study appraised knowledge and attitudes regarding COTPA Act among adults in a rural area and elicited socio-demographic predictors of knowledge and attitudes regarding COTPA Act among study participants.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2014 on adults (aged ≥18 years) in a rural area of Coastal Karnataka. A pre-designed, pre-tested proforma was used to collect information from study participants regarding their knowledge and attitudes about COTPA Act. Knowledge and attitude scores were computed. A score of ≥4 was good knowledge and ≥3 was regarded as positive attitudes.Results: Nearly 49.14% had good knowledge, while 51.29% displayed positive attitudes. Those belonging to upper and upper middle socio-economic class (Class I+Class II) had higher odds for good knowledge (AOR=2.09, 95% CI=0.82-5.92), when compared to their counterparts belonging to other socio-economic classes. Age ≥60 years (AOR=3.80, 95% CI= 0.30-9.98), education beyond primary school (AOR=2.88, 95% CI=1.24-6.19), upper and upper middle class socio-economic status (AOR=3.68, 95% CI=1.34-7.02) were the key predictor variables for positive attitudes.Conclusions:Nearly half the study participants had good knowledge and positive attitudes towards COTPA Act. High socio-economic status could predict good knowledge, while age ≥60 years, education beyond primary school and a high socio-economic status were the key variables predicting positive attitudes. Educational campaigns can help improve knowledge. Assessment of knowledge and attitude is imperative prior to implementation of policies to ensure effectiveness. 

scholarly journals Gender differences in the determinants of willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the working-age population in Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Ishimaru ◽  
Makoto Okawara ◽  
Hajime Ando ◽  
Ayako Hino ◽  
Tomohisa Nagata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Annual Household Income ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Current Season ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Working Age ◽  
Working Age Population

Many factors are related to vaccination intentions. However, gender differences in the determinants of intention to get the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine have not been fully investigated. This study examined gender differences in the determinants of willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the working-age population in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Japanese citizens aged 20-65 years using an online self-administered questionnaire in December 2020. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Among 27,036 participants (13,814 men and 13,222 women), the percentage who were willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine was lower among women than among men (33.0% vs. 41.8%). Age and education level showed a gender gap regarding the association with willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine: men who were older or had a higher level of education were more willing to get the vaccine, whereas women aged 30-49 years and those with a higher level of education showed a relatively low willingness to get the vaccine. For both men and women, marriage, higher annual household income, underlying disease, current smoking, vaccination for influenza during the current season, and fear of COVID-19 transmission were linked to a higher likelihood of being willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings give important insight into identifying target groups in need of intervention regarding COVID-19 vaccination, especially among women. Providing education about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination in the workplace may be an effective strategy to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

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