Costa-i-Font, Joan 
ORCID: 0000-0001-7174-7919
(2008)
Housing assets and the socio-economic determinants of health and disability in old age.
Health and Place, 14 (3).
pp. 478-491.
ISSN 1353-8292
Abstract
The influence of socio-economic determinants among the elderly is a complex subject. Although they rely on pension income, the wealth that they have accumulated over their lifetime (primarily housing assets), jointly with housing-related determinants, could have a more significant effect on health production. Hence, owning a house has more potential than income for reducing health inequalities. This study makes use of a representative cross-sectional database on the Spanish population aged 55 or over. Using a continuous variable to measure health and a measure of disabilities in old age, the study explores some socio-economic determinants of health and disability and provides a breakdown of inequalities in socio-economic status and in aggregate individual health. The study's findings indicate that housing equity overrides the effect of income as a determinant of health and (absence of) disability in old age. Furthermore, housing assets account for more than 90% of socio-economic inequalities and 54% of inequalities in disability.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13538... |
| Additional Information: | © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. |
| Divisions: | Social Policy European Institute LSE Health |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Nov 2009 15:09 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Dec 2024 23:20 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/25882 |
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