The relationship between women’s work histories and incomes in later life in the UK, US and West Germany

Publication type

Research Paper

Series Number

CASE/137

Series

CASEpapers

Authors

Publication date

June 1, 2009

Abstract:

Using data from several large scale longitudinal surveys, this paper investigates the relationship between older women s personal incomes and their work histories in the UK, US and West Germany. By comparing three countries with very different welfare regimes, we seek to gain a better understanding of the interaction between the life course, pension system and women s incomes in later life. The association between older women s incomes and work histories is strongest in West Germany and weakest in the UK, where there is evidence of a pensions poverty trap and where only predominantly full-time employment is associated with significantly higher incomes in later life, after controlling for other socio-economic characteristics. Work history matters less for widows (in all three countries) and more for younger birth cohorts and more educated women (UK only). We conclude with a brief discussion of the ?women-friendliness of different pension regimes in the light of our analysis.

Subjects

Link

- http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/publications/casepapers.asp

Notes

discussion paper


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