Working Paper: NBER ID: w19088
Authors: Neeraj Kaushal
Abstract: We study the effect of a recent expansion in India's National Old Age Pension Scheme on elderly well-being. Estimates suggest that public pension has a modestly negative effect on the employment of elderly/near elderly men with a primary or lower education but no effect of the employment of similar women. Pension raised family expenditures, lowering poverty, and the effect was smaller on families headed by illiterate persons suggesting lower pension coverage of this most disadvantaged group. Further, households spent most of the pension income on medical care and education. We find some weak evidence that pension raised longevity.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: I3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Increase in pension amounts (H55) | Decrease in employment of elderly men aged 55-70 (J26) |
| Increase in pension amounts (H55) | Increase in household expenditures (D12) |
| Increase in pension amounts (H55) | Increase in longevity among the elderly (J14) |