Construction of the third age in Argentine society

NÉLIDA REDONDOARGENTINANoviembre de 2006

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Old age or aging are not the cause of social imbalances or problems, but rather, certain structural properties of social systems are able to either hinder or ease the fruitful extension of human life.

Theoretical background and Western models of ageing

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Theory of structuration

Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time”

Life span of an individual: “irreversible time”

Lengthy duration of institutions: “revesible time”

New structure in the temporality. Practices of the elderly in intermediate socio-economic developing countries

Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time”

Life span of an individual: “irreversible time”

Permanence of human existence: “eternal time”

Lengthy duration of institutions: “historical time”

The Argentine Context

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

COUNTRY GDP per capita US$ (*)

Year 2004

GDP per capita US$ (**)Year 2004

Aging of the population.

Year 2004 (1)

% people aged 70 and over on

pension or retirement

(2)

Mexico 6,770 9,590 5.2 23

Chile 4,910 10,500 7.9 83

Costa Rica 4,670 9,530 5.7 40 (a)

Panama 4,450 6,870 5.9 43

Venezuela 4,020 5,760 4.9 26

Uruguay 3,950 9,070 13.2 93 (b)

Argentina 3,720 12,460 10.1 76 (b)

Brazil 3,000 8,020 6.0 91

Peru 2,360 5,370 5.2 27

El Salvador 2,350 4,980 5.3 15

Ecuador 2,180 3,690 5.7 28 (b)

Guatemala 2,130 4,140 4.3 12

Colombia 2,100 6,820 5.0 25

Dominican Rep.

2,080 6,750 4.1 12

Paraguay 1,170 4,870 3.7 22

Honduras 1,030 2,710 3.8 6 (c)

Bolivia 960 2,590 4.5 81 (d)

Nicaragua 790 3,300 3.3 16 (c)

Argentine Gross Domestic Product, 2nd. Q 2001 to 1st. Q 2002. (in Millions of Pesos current at 1993)

Quarter and Year GDP at market prices

% variation Quarter to Quarter (*)

Cumulative variation (**)

2nd Q 2001 284,796 10 0

3rd Q 2001 263,127 -8 -8

4th Q 2001 248,865 -5 -13

1st Q 2002 216,849 -13 -24

Source: INDEC, National Accounts, 2005.Notes: * Quarterly variation = (Q2-Q1)/Q1** Cumulative variation (Q2 or Q3 or Q4 – 2nd Q 2001)/2nd. Q 2001.

Percentage of people aged 65 and over in households below the Poverty Line (PL). Total urban conglomerates. October 2001 and 2002. Second quarter of 2003 and 2005

14,1

30,325,7

15,6

0,05,0

10,015,020,025,030,035,0

2001 2002 2003 2005

Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. Second semester of 2003 and 2005.

Percentage of people by group of age in households below the Poverty Line (PL). Total urban conglomerates. October 2001 and 2002. Second quarter of 2003 and 2005

Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. Second semester of 2003 and 2005.

49.3

69.760.2

44.9

32.4

51.041.5

27.7

14.1

30.3 25.715.6

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

Oct. 2001 Oct.2002 2° Sem. 2003 2° Sem. 2005

0 a 24 años 25 a 64 años 65 años y más

Ex-post selected* coverage rate (for people aged 65 and over) of the Argentine social security system by age groups. Country Total. Urban areas. 1997-2001

Age groups 1997(a)

2001(b)

% Variation(c)

TOTAL 78.1 76.6 -1.9

65-69 ys.age group

69 65 -5.8

70-74 ys.age group

80.3 76.5 -4.7

75 ys and over 84.8 85.4 0.7

Source: Prepared by the author based on information from the Survey of Living Conditions, 2001 (SIEMPRO).

Percentage of heads of households that own the place they live on, by age group. Country total. Urban areas. 2001

0102030405060708090

18,9

37,7

63,3

79,785,5

1 a 18años

19 a 30ños

31 a 44años

45 a 64ños

65 añosy m s

Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001

Percentage of population below poverty line by group of age. Country total. Urban areas. 2001. 2002. 2003. 2005

Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. 2nd. Semester of 2003 and 2005

17.1

33.6

28.3

18.3

10.1

25.322.3

12.3

-

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

2,001 2,002 2,003 2,005

65-74 years 75 years and over

The research project

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Did the demographic aging and extension of the average life span in Argentina modify the personal history of older people in a similar manner to the one recorded in European and North American countries, or is there a prevalence of dependency, poverty and unhappiness described as typical of less developed countries?

Number of people interviewed by social-economic strata, sex and major age groups. City of Buenos Aires. 2004

Poor Low and Low-Middle

Middle and High-Middle

Total

TOTAL 11 12 17 40

Males aged 62-74 4 2 3 9

Males aged 75 and over 1 4 4 9

Women aged 60-74 3 4 4 11

Women aged 75 and over 3 2 6 11

Interviewees were selected based on

certain variables:

a) major age groups: old age (sixty to seventy-four years of age) and fourth age (ages seventy-five and over)

b) residents of different neighbourhoods c) different social strata d) differing drives to take part in social and

community activities e) different levels of access to housing

accommodation, including residence at collective institutions.

The universe interviewed was classified by socio-economic strata as follows:

a) poor, equivalent to the 1st. income quintile

b) low and low-middle sectors, equivalent to the 2nd. and 3rd. income quintiles

c) middle and high-middle sectors (equivalent to the 4th. and 5th. income quintiles).

The questions covered the following topics Basic social demographic and economic data Occupational status, past and present. Type of housing, past and present. Perception about: most recent changes in his or her personal biography, point in time or situation that triggered the changes, spheres in which the changes took place: a) social relationships, b) work, c) family

life, and d) physical conditions. Semantic definition of the current period in the individual´s biography and semantic

definition used to define an elderly person. Perception of the chronological age at which a person can be considered elderly. Different perceptions of old age throughout the lifetime of the interviewee: a) in his or

her youth, and b) at present. Makeup of material resources: social security income or income from social welfare

services, savings, family transfers or other income. Restriction or continuity of lifelong comsumption patterns. Macro-structural facilities and personal choices after ceasing to be economically

active. Reciprocal intergenerational care and attention; relationships in the family sphere

and family connections. Perception about positive and negative aspects of this stage in life.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Key findings

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Two-fold structure: practices, institutions and theories

70 or 75 years old. leaving a Legacy. elderly persons (personas mayores)

rather than senior citizens.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

First profile: Most positive aspect: witnessing the

growth of successive family generations.

Threatening: a) something bad happening to their loved ones; b) illness, disability or suffering afflicting themselves.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Second profile : Most positive aspect: lives the sense

of freedom and autonomy, and a greater capacity to reflect due to the degree of maturity reached and the lifelong experience.

Threatening: suffering limitations from illness.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Third profile : Most positive aspect: possibility of

learning and achieving personal growth, of carrying out voluntary or vocational activities that they were unable to perform in previous stages of their life.

Threatening: comes from social sphere like violence, poverty or insecurity which currently afflict the country; or economic limitations.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Fourth profile : Most positive aspect: Nothing or

receiving social assistance.

Threatening: The future, the lack of money.

Construction of the third age in Argentinean society

Third Age

Enjoyment and well being during this stage of life.

Not minimum wealth, but rather continuation (with spontaneous adjustment) of previous lifestyle.

Desire to live on in the memory of those significant to them.

New structure in the temporality. Practices of the elderly in intermediate socio-economic developing countries

Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time”

Life span of an individual: “irreversible time”

Permanence of human existence: “eternal time”

Lengthy duration of institutions: “historical time”