title: United States public policy and the elderly:  the disproportionate risk to the well-being of women.
abstract: "Cross-sectional comparisons show that poverty among the aged in the United States has dropped dramatically over the last two decades.  We use longitudinal data to identify economic events associated with unfavorable economic outcomes and to trace the influence of these events on women and men at different ages.  We find that while social insurance programs appear to prevent severe financial hardship from the most frequent work-related events, they are far less effective in cushioning the economic impact of widowhood and divorce, especially for women.  We suggest a number of policy changes that would provide some measure of social insurance against adverse family-related events."
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Burkhauser
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000569:Americas; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004243:Divorce; D004467:Economics; D005376:Financial Management; D005380:Financing, Government; D007182:Income; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011203:Poverty; D011640:Public Policy; D012106:Research; D012943:Social Security; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D017805:Widowhood; D014933:Women's Rights
keywords: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Americas; Comparative Studies; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Divorce; Economic Factors; Financial Activities; Financing, Government; Income; Income Distribution; Inequalities; Marital Status; Microeconomic Factors; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Policy; Population; Population Characteristics; Poverty; Research Methodology; Social Policy; Social Security; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; United States; Widowed; Women's Status