Ethnic inequality in retirement income

A comparative analysis of immigrant–native gaps in Western Europe

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11199374
AutoresJan P Heisig (0000-0001-8228-1907, WZB Berlin Social Science Center), B Lancee (0000-0002-9246-2039, University of Amsterdam), J Radl (0000-0002-0372-5782, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, autor correspondente)
Ano2018
Volume38
Fascículo10
Páginas1963-1994
Data de publicação2018-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x17000332
OpenAlexW2611543235
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas45

Previous research unequivocally shows that immigrants are less successful in the labour market than the native-born population. However, little is known about whether ethnic inequality persists after retirement. We use data on 16 Western European countries from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC, 2004–2013) to provide the first comparative study of ethnic inequalities among the population aged 65 and older. We focus on the retirement income gap (RIG) between immigrants from non-European Union countries and relate its magnitude to country differences in welfare state arrangements. Ethnic inequality after retirement is substantial: after adjusting for key characteristics including age, education and occupational status, the average immigrant penalty across the 16 countries is 28 per cent for men and 29 per cent for women. Country-level regressions show that income gaps are smaller in countries where the pension system is more redistributive. We also find that easy access to long-term residence is associated with larger RIGs, at least for men. There is no clear evidence that immigrants’ access to social security programmes, welfare state transfers to working-age households or the strictness of employment protection legislation affect the size of the RIG

Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economic inequality · Economics · Employment protection legislation · Ethnic group · European union · Geography · Immigration · Inequality · Labour economics · Pension · Political science · Politics · Population · Residence · Social security · Sociology · Unemployment · Welfare · Welfare state · Demography · Employment and Welfare Studies · Labour Market and Migration · Migration and Labor Dynamics