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This study uses longitudinal data from the 1994 and 1998 Health and Retirement Survey to examine factors associated with transition to poverty among respondents aged 55 and older. This time frame is of interest because the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform) became law in 1996. While Welfare Reform targeted working age adults, several provisions directly and indirectly affected public benefit receipt of older individuals. Change in respondents' participation in Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid were examined using a Chi- square test. Results of logistic regression indicate that older individuals who are less educated, female, black and other race, foreign -born, less healthy, unemployed, widowed are more likely to enter poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis compares the balance sheet of the first baby boomer cohort with the balance sheet of those born during the twelve years prior to 1945 in order to contrast changes between 1989 and 2001 for both groups and to compare the financial status of the two groups at the same age using inflation-adjusted dollars. The comparison illustrates differences in investing and borrowing behavior between the cohorts and provides insight into the relative financial strength of boomers as they approach retirement. Mean wealth of older boomers is higher than mean wealth of pre-boomers at the same age, however median wealth did not change and net worth among lower-middle wealth groups declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from the Census 2000 1% Public Use Microdata File are used to examine the sociodemographic and economic characteristics of grandparents with co-resident grandchildren. These data provide a unique opportunity to identify grandparents who do or do not have financial responsibility for co-resident grandchildren and to know duration of such responsibility. Significant differences between these two groups of grandparents warrants skepticism of the assumption used in previous research that grandchild co-residence is an adequate proxy of financial responsibility for the grandchild. All else equal, grandparents who assume financial responsibility for co-resident grandchildren have a lower income to poverty ratio and a greater likelihood of receiving public assistance than do grandparents who do not assume financial responsibility. The most economically vulnerable appear to be those who are relatively young, single, have fewer earners in the home, relatively lower levels of education, one or more disabilities and incomes at or below poverty. Diversity among grandparents providing financial support for co-resident grandchildren suggests that different public policies may be needed to provide support for this caregiving role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer Expenditure data from 1980 to 1997 are used to examine trends in senior consumers' out-of- pocket spending for health care and prescription drugs. In terms of real dollars and budget shares, spending on health care and prescription drugs by seniors has increased over time. Over time, those who purchased health insurance to supplement Medicare were more likely to purchase health maintenance plans and Medicare supplement policies than commercial health insurance or Blue Cross/Blue Shield policies. Among the four supplemental insurance types investigated in this paper, health maintenance plans had the lowest increase in senior policy holders' out-of-pocket expenditures for both prescription drugs and total health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which analyzed longitudinally the household health out-of-pocket (OOP) health care expenditures patterns using data from the 1980-1995 Consumer Expenditure Surveys. Investigation of the factors associated with household OOP expenditure for health insurance and medical services; Policy Results; Discussion.

Presents a study which examined the expenditure patterns among Korean elderly women using the Korean 1996 Survey of Family Income and Expenditures. Methodology; Results; Conclusion.

Presents a study which examined characteristics of flextime users among employed, married women and factors influencing the odds that an employed, married woman would use flextime. Information on data from the 1997 Current Population Survey used in the study; Findings.

Presents a study which examined the factors associated with the level of relative deprivation in human capital investment using a sample of households in Inchon, South Korea. Concept of relative deprivation; Determinants of relative deprivation in consumption; Selection of participants; Statistical model used; Results.

Presents a study which compared the expenditure levels and characteristics of single mothers receiving welfare to those who do not in the United States. Description of the Consumer Expenditure Survey data from 1995-1996; Findings of the study; Expenditure estimates; Limitations and implications of the study.

Examines spending pattern differences between Asian-Canadian and the Canadian-born residents. Similarity of total annual expenditures of two ethnic groups; Differences in the categories of transportation, personal care, recreation and vices; Goods considered necessities and luxury by both groups; Significance of ethnicity for theory development.

Examines the valuation of household production time of American full-time homemakers using four variants of the opportunity cost approach. Limitations and advantages of each method.

Calculates descriptive statistics of debt levels and credit usage of under-65 and over-65 age groups in the United States. Smaller percentage of older group who hold any type of debt; Younger group's possession of larger mean debt and credit levels; Higher level of qualified debt for the older group.

Presents a study which examined the health insurance expenditures of Americans aged 65 and older. Information on data from the 1996 Consumer Expenditure Survey; Increase in the medical care price index between 1989 and 1994; Areas studied in the data; Findings.

Presents an overview of a study on spending patterns of the poor and nonpoor in the United States using a poverty measure. Practical problem presented in the study; Data used in the study; Implication of the findings.