Ageing, Health, Loneliness and Wellbeing

19 Pages Posted: 29 Jul 2020

See all articles by Massimiliano Tani

Massimiliano Tani

University of New South Wales - Australian Defence Force Academy; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Zhiming Cheng

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School; Macquarie University; University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC)

Matloob Piracha

University of Kent - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Ben Zhe Wang

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School

Abstract

Older people experience high rates of depression and suicide, yet they make a positive net contribution to the economy through activities such as employment, volunteering, and looking after grandchildren. The wellbeing of older people is therefore important not only on moral but also economic grounds. To understand which policies will facilitate the overall wellbeing, we use Australian data to explore the determinants of wellbeing and loneliness of natives and migrants in the 65-85 age group, taking into account the extent to which social networks contribute to the wellbeing and possible reduction in loneliness. Results show that social networks have a strong positive effect on wellbeing and a strong effect in reducing loneliness among both natives and migrants. The positive effect of social networks is stronger for females than males.

Keywords: ageing, wellbeing, loneliness, social networks

JEL Classification: I31, J14

Suggested Citation

Tani, Massimiliano and Cheng, Zhiming and Piracha, Matloob and Wang, Ben Zhe, Ageing, Health, Loneliness and Wellbeing. IZA Discussion Paper No. 13527, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3660274 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3660274

Massimiliano Tani (Contact Author)

University of New South Wales - Australian Defence Force Academy ( email )

Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia
+612 6268 8512 (Phone)
+612 6248 8450 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/sbus/staff_cvs/about_max_t.html

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Zhiming Cheng

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia

Macquarie University ( email )

North Ryde
Sydney, New South Wales 2109
Australia

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) ( email )

Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

Matloob Piracha

University of Kent - Department of Economics ( email )

Keynes College
Kent, CT2 7NP
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Ben Zhe Wang

Macquarie University, Macquarie Business School ( email )

New South Wales 2109
Australia

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