31mar14 - understanding wellbeing in old age across the world: lessons from across the...

Understanding wellbeing in old age across the world

Monday 31st March 2014

This event is kindly supported by Age International

#worldwellbeing

Baroness Sally Greengross

Chief ExecutiveILC-UK


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Chris Roles

DirectorAge International


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Jessica Watson

Policy and Communications ManagerILC-UK


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The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

What is the relationship between financial satisfaction and happiness among older people?

An analysis using the World Values Survey 1981-2008Jessica Watson, International Longevity Centre – UK

@ilcuk


This research

Authored by David Hayes, PFRC

Part of the ‘Financial dimensions of wellbeing in

older age’ project funded under SDAI

http://www.bris.ac.uk/geography/research/pfrc/esrc/


World Values Survey

Global assessment of social, political and economic

attitudes and changes

Containing around 65,000 over-50s

84 countries over 5 waves (1981-2008)

Data weighted to be nationally representative

Descriptives are wave 5; Multilevel is all 5 waves


World Values Survey

Source: http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs/articles/folder_published/article_base_56


The analysis

How levels of financial satisfaction (FS) vary b/w

countries in the latest wave of data (2005-2008)

Relationship b/w age and financial satisfaction

Self-reported happiness by country; and by age

Model individual and country predictors of FS and

happiness using multilevel modelling on all five

waves

Identify common predictors


This researchTable 1: Satisfaction of all those aged 50+ with household’s financial situation, by country

Rank Country Percentage satisfied (%)



1 Switzerland 87 19 Trinidad and Tobago

65 37 Ghana 45

2 Norway 85 20 Hong Kong 65 38 Iran 44

3 Sweden 84 21 United States 64 39 Chile 39

4 Finland 83 22 Taiwan 63 40 Egypt 38

5 Canada 83 23 Germany 62 41 Morocco 36

6 Netherlands 82 24 China 61 42 Poland 35

7 Great Britain 80 25 Uruguay 61 43 Romania 31

8 Malaysia 78 26 Andorra 60 44 Ethiopia 29

9 New Zealand 76 27 Jordan 60 45 Serbia 29

10 Italy 76 28 Turkey 59 46 India 28

11 Japan 73 29 Brazil 56 47 Burkina Faso 27

12 Mexico 72 30 Spain 54 48 Iraq 27

13 Australia 71 31 Slovenia 54 49 Ukraine 26

14 Thailand 70 32 South Korea 52 50 Russia 26

15 Vietnam 69 33 Guatemala 52 51 Rwanda 24

16 Argentina 68 34 Mali 47 52 Moldova 23

17 Indonesia 68 35 Peru 47 53 Bulgaria 16

18 France 65 36 Zambia 46 54 Georgia 12

Source: World Values Survey 2005-2008. Base is all individuals aged 50 and above. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer. Note that Cyprus and South Africa are omitted from this table due to small bases (>100).


Financial satisfaction by country

Swiss (87%); followed by Norway, Sweden and

Finland (85, 84, and 83%).

FCCs dominate lower ranks - Georgia lowest

(12%); 6 of 10 countries with lowest FS are FCCs

Africa - low FS (Rwanda, B. Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia)

80% of Older Brits satisfied; only 66% under 50s


Satisfaction with household financial situation of those aged 50+ by age group

Figure 1: Satisfaction of all those aged 50+ with their household’s financial situation, grouped by age

Source: World Values Survey 2005-2008. Base is all individuals aged 50 and above. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer.

53

5657

54 54

5960

48

50

52

54

56

58

60

62

50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+Perc

enta

ge in

age

gro

up r

epor

ting

bei

ng

finan

cial

ly s

atisfi

ed

Age Group


This research

Table 2: Self-reported happiness of all those aged 50+, grouped by country Rank Country Percentage

happy(%) Rank Country Percentage

happy(%) Rank Country Percentage

happy(%)

1 New Zealand

97 19 Italy 87 37 Rwanda 76

2 Sweden 97 20 Jordan 87 38 Guatemala 75

3 Malaysia 96 21 South Korea

86 39 China 75

4 Norway 96 22 Poland 86 40 Ghana 75

5 Canada 95 23 France 86 41 Ethiopia 73

6 Indonesia 94 24 Mexico 85 42 Chile 72

7 United States

94 25 Argentina 85 43 Slovenia 71

8 Switzerland 93 26 Morocco 85 44 India 69

9 Netherlands 93 27 Turkey 85 45 Ukraine 65

10 Great Britain

93 28 Trinidad and Tobago

83 46 Zambia 61

11 Australia 92 29 Taiwan 82 47 Peru 61

12 Japan 91 30 Germany 82 48 Georgia 56

13 Brazil 91 31 Egypt 81 49 Russia 53

14 Thailand 91 32 Hong Kong

80 50 Serbia 50

15 Finland 90 33 Uruguay 80 51 Iraq 47

16 Vietnam 89 34 Burkina Faso

80 52 Bulgaria 46

17 Andorra 89 35 Mali 77 53 Romania 44

18 Spain 88 36 Iran 76 54 Moldova 33

Source: World Values Survey 2005-2008. Base is all individuals aged 50 and above. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer. Note that Cyprus and South Africa are omitted from this table due to small bases (>100).


Happiness by country

More than nine-in-ten Britons happy (93%)

New Zealand and Sweden ‘top’, 97% of people

Similarities between Table 1 and Table 2 striking

Of the 10 countries with highest FS, 8 also feature

among the ten ‘happiest’.

7 countries are in the bottom 10 of both FS and

happiness


Self-reported happiness of those aged 50+ by age group

Figure 2: Self-reported happiness of all those aged 50+, grouped by age

Source: World Values Survey 2005-2008. Base is all individuals aged 50 and above. Percentages are rounded to the nearest integer.

80

79

80

77 77 77

76

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+Perc

enta

ge in

age

gro

up r

epor

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bei

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happ

y

Age Group


Multilevel modelling

Multilevel modelling used to analyse hierarchies

Which here is individuals nested within countries

Allows exploration of complex data structures

Simultaneous analysis of different levels of the

dataset (i.e. at individual and country level)

The models we run are two-level binomial logit

models, using McMC estimation


Individual-level predictors of financial dissatisfaction among over 50s

50-54s 2* the odds of being dissatisfied (cf. 80+)

Divorced = odds of 1.7; single = 1.3 (cf. married)

Unemployed twice the odds of dissatisfaction

Education a ‘continuous relationship’ with FS

SR lower class 5* the odds of being dissatisfied

Saving behaviour a highly significant predictor


Country-level predictors of financial dissatisfaction among over 50s

After controlling individual-level characteristics:

Lowest quartile of GDP 2.2*the odds (cf. highest)

African countries 1.9*the odds of reporting FDS.

Former Communist Countries 4*the odds of

reporting financial dissatisfaction (cf. W.Europe)

Income inequality not a significant predictor


Individual-level predictors of unhappiness among over 50s

Similarly to financial (dis)satisfaction, and when

controlling for other characteristics, survey wave,

employment status, marital status, education,

social class and savings behaviour are significant

predictors of happiness.

No. of children and gender now significant (men

slightly more unhappy); age is not significant


Country-level predictors of unhappiness among the over-50s

After controlling individual-level characteristics:

Lowest quartile of GDP 2.2*the odds (cf. highest)

Continuing similarities to model of FS, those in

European FCCs higher odds (3.6) of being

unhappy than those in the rest of Europe.

Income inequality (Gini) again not significant.


Table 3: Significant variables in predicting both financial dissatisfaction and unhappiness

Variable entered into multilevel model

Significant predictor of financial dissatisfaction?

Significant predictor of unhappiness?

Significant predictor of both financial dissatisfaction and unhappiness?

Wave * *Gender X X Age group X X Marital Status Employment Status Number of children X X Education Self-reported social class Savings behaviour Gini Income Inequality X X X GDP per capita Geography *Borderline statistical significance


Security and trust?

Financial satisfaction rooted in…?

Income in later life

– Able and enabled to work

– Filial piety

– Established and reliable pension schemes?


Security and trust?

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 200

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pension index grade v Percentage over 50s financially satisfied

Overall index grade Percentage satisfied

Overall index grade from Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Grade 2013. http://globalpensionindex.com/2013/melbourne-mercer-global-pension-index-2013-report.pdfSatisfaction level from PFRC analysis of World values Survey 2005-2008


Security and trust?

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 200

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pension index grade v Percentage over 50s financially satisfied with line of best fit

Overall index grade Percentage satisfied Linear (Percentage satisfied)

Overall index grade from Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Grade 2013. http://globalpensionindex.com/2013/melbourne-mercer-global-pension-index-2013-report.pdfSatisfaction level from PFRC analysis of World values Survey 2005-2008


Final thoughts

Some good news - 55% of over 50s report being

satisfied with household financial situation

Macroeconomic context

– African countries 1.9x more likely to report FS

– FCC 4x more likely (cf. W Europe)

Self-categorisation – in socioeconomic class and

for financial satisfaction


Many thanks

Jessica Watson

Policy and Communications Manager

International Longevity Centre - UK

[email protected]

02073400440 Twitter: @ILCUK

Websites with all outputs:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/geography/research/pfrc/esrc/

www.ilcuk.org.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/geography/research/pfrc/esrc/

http://www.ilcuk.org.uk/

Jane Scobie

Director of Communications and AdvocacyHelpage International


#worldwellbeing

Jane ScobieDirector of Advocacy and Communicationswww.globalagewatch.org

HelpAge InternationalOur vision is a world in which older people fulfill their potential to lead dignified, active, healthy and secure lives.

-

Global AgeWatch Index• First-ever measure of quality of life and well-

being of older people around the world

• Uses the latest data available from World Bank, WHO, ILO, and Gallup World View

• Covers 91 countries representing 89% of the world’s older people

© R

andom

wir

e/F

lickr

Global AgeWatch Index - overall rankings

Story behind the Index, meet Katerina• No formal education

• No pension

• Works very hard

• Ill but can’t afford healthcare

• Looks after young children

• Invisible and excluded because of her age

Older people are missed out of data collection and analyses

They are invisible to policy makers

Who sees Katerina?

Proportion of population aged 60+ in 2012 and 2050

What will make a difference

Why an Index? • Start process

• To provide a framework that countries can use to explore their response to ageing; goes beyond economics, reflects priorities of people in older age

• To benchmarks countries and provide a tool for CSO to measure progress and hold governments to account.

• To generate national and global debate, share experience

• Make a practical contribution to the “data revolution” called for in the new Post 2015 development framework

What concept underlies the Index?

• The Index captures multidimensional aspects of quality of life and well-being of older people;

• The Index is built on human development principles which put people and their empowerment at the heart of all social and economic policies;

• Indicators and their groupings into several domains reflect views of older people on issues most important to them (from HelpAge/UNFPA’s ‘Ageing in the 21st Century’, 2012).

Four domains and thirteen indicators

Global Rankings

Insufficient data coverage for Africa, Middle East and Caribbean – close to 100 countries missing

Evidence generated by the Index• History counts - progressive social welfare policies for

all their citizens across the life-course (Nordic European countries)

• Money is not everything –‘smart’ age-focussed spending needed. Poor countries have lessons on offer. (Bolivia and Korea: Ensuring access to quality healthcare has been vital in achieving good health outcomes)

• Ageing well requires action - social progress doesn’t guarantee the wellbeing of all (examples of Korea and India)

• It’s never too soon to invest in ageing (Sweden and Norway; also Mauritius, and southern Latin American countries invested early)

Regional results: Asia (selected countries)

How the Index is being used• 60,000 downloads, 3000 media hits 62

countries

• National research on quality of life older people using micro level data of Kenya, Korea, Bangladesh, China, India UAE, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Pakistan

• Latin America and ASEAN interest in creating sub-regional Index

• Ministry of Health and Social Services of Quebec - Index for the province

• CSO e.g. Korea, Bolivia, Colombia, India

Partnerships

• World Bank: provision of data on poverty among older people

• UN Women: work around data, advocacy and research on older women

• Collaboration between Commonwealth Youth Forum Index and Global AgeWatch Index to ensure post-2015 Sustainable Development report responds to all ages

• Human Development Report – how capabilities, choices and freedoms experienced in early life interconnect in later life, how to build resilience to vulnerability and peruse ‘sustained human progress’

• Gallup World Survey – extending surveys

Next steps• Update and publish Index annually on 1

October, 2014 focus on income security

• Evidenced based report and policy briefs based on the Index data

• Expand number of countries, disaggregate by gender

• Develop stakeholder engagement programme at national level, Index training, expand national report cards

• Seek ways to improve index through analysis of micro data and building of feedback – Version 2.0 in 3-5 years time?

Next stepsPlease use it and help us create a better world for everyone

Thank you!

Tim Fassam

Head of Public AffairsPrudential


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Please follow the below link for information on theGlobal Aging Preparedness Project

http://gapindex.csis.org/


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Panel Debate and Q&A


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Lunch


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Panel Debate

Rodd Bond, Director, Netwell Centre


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Improving the Well-Being of Older People

Considerations on a Capability Approach to ‘Ageing and Justice’.

31th March 2014

Understanding wellbeing in old age across the world:

lessons from across the ‘developed/developing’ country divide

Age International, PRFC, ILC-UK Debate

Rodd Bond mriai

Netwell Centre, Dundalk, Ireland

Settlement Global economy

Demographicchange

Climatechange

Our Future

Sustainability context Connection / belonging

Resource

Reconfiguration

Service quality

Front-line Empower organisational

edge (client) for greater self-management

Equitable access Financial balance

Based on Tony O’Brien slide (HSE) at Trinity Sumer School 2012

Shifting the edge Public Service Reform

Care & Cure

Act

ive

Age

ing

Private services

Family

1. Cross sectoral alignments

2. Pathway integration

Person

Public services

Community/Voluntary

Prevention &

intervention

empower and connect the citizen

3. Convergence over time

Shifting the centre: the citizen Person at the heart

Learning Productive Leisure

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10090

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10090

Economics of longer living A changing lifecourse

Connection:

Rural transport & urban mobility

Confidence:

Sense of safety & security

Empowerment:

Better access to better information

Alignment & Convergence:

Health, housing and care

Shareable places for all:

Recognise frailty

Lifecourse:

Inter-generational solidarity

Energy for change:

Older people as a resource

Buildings and outdoor spaces

Housing

Transport

Respect and inclusion

Social participation

Civic participation/employment

Information and communication

Community and health services

WHO: Age-Friendly Cities An integrated agenda for change

Data sources – Gallop doesn’t do it ?

Emerging measures / connectivity Digital inclusion ?

Possibly conflicting directions – employment vs care – and choice ?

Data resolution – neighbourhood level – issues hidden within cities?

Measures and metrics A look at Ireland

Capability Approach‘When evaluating well-being ( a flourishing life ) – the most important thing is to consider what people are actually able to be and do’.

The Capability Approach focuses directly on the quality of life that individuals are actually able to achieve. This quality of life is analysed in terms of the core concepts of ‘functionings’ and ‘capability’.•Functionings are states of ‘being and doing’ – ie well nourished, having shelter, literate, …•Capability refers to a set of valuable functionings that a person has effective access to. Thus a person’s capability represents the effective freedom of an individual to choose between different functioning combinations – between different kinds of life – that he/she has reason to value.

Amartya Sen

Capability Set(functionings available to choose from)

Personal ‘utilisation function’(Depending on interpersonal differences; physiology, and physical and social environment) – ability to convert.

Functionings achieved

Resources(Characteristics of goods available)

Utility(Subjective well-being)

We need a framework• Our problems evaluating the implementation of existing and

innovative policies and practices (measures and indicators) ?

• Our problems framing a coherent agenda across older persons’ employment, inclusion, welfare, health, access and justice/rights ?

• What to do ?– To enhance our well-being – quality of life – Within resource constraints - effectively and sustainably– Attractively, accessibly, safely – quality of environment

• How to govern / plan / collaborate / partner / co-design etc ….. (doing it together) ?

• How to know were going in the right direction (information needs )?

Panel Debate

Dr Jack Watters, Vice President of External Affairs, Pfizer

Ken Bluestone, Policy Adviser, Age International


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Panel Debate and Q&A


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Understanding wellbeing in old age across the world

Monday 31st March 2014


#worldwellbeing

31mar14 - understanding wellbeing in old age across the world: lessons from across the...

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