Living standards in old age

Abstract

The exponential growth of the older population, which is associated with the lowering of fertility and birth rates and with the dispersal or even disintegration of family networks, has made the categories of «the old» and the retired one of the focal points of family issue-related sociological analysis. These trends have also become increasingly visible by virtue of their impact on the sustainability of health and social security systems. This article seeks to outline a typology of living standards for various segments of the elderly. The underlying analytical model takes into account descriptive elements relating both to individuals (in terms of socio-occupational and socio-educational variables) and to families (in particular in terms of consumption patterns).