The multidimensional relative poverty of rural older adults in China and the effect of the health poverty alleviation policy

Bibliographic Data

ID22091609
AuthorsWeihong Zeng (0000-0003-3853-3630, Xi'an Jiaotong University, corresponding author), Pianpian Zhao (0009-0009-1676-1748, Xi'an Jiaotong University), Yuan Zhao (0000-0003-3523-9751, Xi'an Jiaotong University), Rashida Saddique (Xi'an Jiaotong University)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages793673-793673
Publication date2022-07-22
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.793673
PMID35937214
OpenAlexW4286717607
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited52

Introduction: Although, especially in the past decade, poverty measurement approaches have been duly developed in two paths (from unidimensional to multidimensional poverty and from absolute to relative poverty), merely a few studies have focused on the combination of both perspectives. However, with global aging, poverty among older adults simultaneously presents multidimensionality and relativity characteristics. This paper explores a multidimensional relative poverty index (MRPI) relative to the aged group in four dimensions, namely, health, social, mental, and material, and then empirically evaluates the specific effects on the MRPI of one of the key targeted anti-poverty policies, that is, the health poverty alleviation policy (HPAP), which includes public health service, medical expense reimbursement, rewarding assistance, basic medical insurance, and so on. Methods: a fuzzy set approach. Statistical difference testing is used to analyze the characteristics and trends of the MRPI. In policy evaluation, to address endogenous problems, the treatment effect model based on Heckman's two-stage regression and finite distributed lag model are used with a controlled township cluster structure. Results: From 2014 to 2020, the MRPI shows a significant upward trend for older adults in rural China, and the health component takes the dominant MRPI position. Empirically, we find that the HPAP can significantly alleviate the MRPI of older adults. Furthermore, among the health poverty alleviation measures, basic medical insurance is the most effective anti-poverty policy to support older adults. Specifically, empirical evidence shows that there is a more statistically significant reduction in the MRPI with the HPAP for the sub-group of older adults with chronic diseases or disabilities. Conclusion: the aging society, and for this, the MRPI is one of the effective tools. Comparing the relativity with the aged group engenders a more accurate understanding of their poverty situation. Moreover, the importance of the health component among all the four dimensions is more conducive to the detailed analysis of their poverty. The empirical analysis results show that regarding poverty reduction approaches in China, developing integrated health promotion systems is necessary and imminent, especially in the long run, such as long-term care insurance that covers typical disabled older adults with chronic diseases

China · Economic growth · Economics · Political science · Poverty · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

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