Economic Advantage and Disadvantage among Older Australians: Producing National and Small Area Profiles

ABSTRACT: Spatial and housing dimensions of economic and social inequalities have had increasing research and policy attention in Australia in recent years. Extensive research demonstrates the importance of the local environment especially for older people who may spend much of their time in their homes and neighbourhoods. While numerous studies have examined the locations of older people, few have systematically examined ways in which disparities of economic resources influence spatial heterogeneity among older Australians. This paper draws on national survey data and spatial microsimulation to examine locational inequalities in economic well-being among older Australians aged 55 years and over. The microsimulation approach makes it possible to analyse multiple dimensions of economic disadvantage (rather than income alone) for older people at a small area level. Significant disparities of income, home ownership and welfare dependence were found along with a strong clustering of elder disadvantage and advantage both within and outside the capital cities.