INTERPRETING CHANGES IN THE ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE ELDERLY, 1949-1979

This paper analyzes changes in the economic well-being of the elderly using data from the Decennial Censuses of 1950 through 1980. We find that the economic status of each elderly cohort is higher on average than that of the preceding cohort. Certain events associated with age–retirement for both men and women and widowhood for women–are associated with declining incomes. Controlling for sex, labor force participation, and marital status, however, the economic well-being of elderly cohorts generally increases with age.