Abstract

This study examines recent trends in income inequality among the elderly in Korea. Aggregate income inequality trends are explained by examining evidence from inequality index decomposition by population subgroup and by income source. Data come from Korean Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS). The results are as follows. First, elderly income inequality increased from 1999 to 2002, and then decreased until 2008. Second, household composition changes appear to have disequalizing influence. The proportion of elderly people who are economically dependent on non-elderly family member or living with adult children has declined. Equalizing influence of private transfers also decreased between 2002 and 2008. These results indicate that the redistributive role of family has weakened over time. Third, the improvement of education level and changing occupational structure among the elderly household head contributed to increase in elderly income inequality. Fourth, earning's factor share has declined steadily, and the diminishing role of earnings provides equalizing influence on elderly income inequality from 2002 to 2008. Fifth, the impact of recent expansion of social insurance has changed over time. Inequality contribution of social insurance income increased from 1999 to 2002, and then decreased from 2002 to 2008.

본 연구는 한국노동패널 자료를 활용하여 외환위기 이후 십여 년간 노인 소득불평등 추이의 영향요인을 분석하였다. 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 노인 소득불평등은 1999~2002년에 증가하고 2002~2008년에 감소하였다. 둘째, 성인 자녀와의 동거 감소, 독거노인 증가, 노인이 스스로 생계를 책임지는 노인가구주 가구 증가 등의 가구구성 변화가 불평등 증가에 기여하였고, 2002~2008년에는 사적이전의 불평등 기여도가 증가하였다. 셋째, 노인 교육수준의 향상과 근로활동의 변화가 불평등 증가에 기여하였다. 넷째, 근로소득의 비중이 감소하고 있고, 2002~2008년에는 근로소득의 불평등 기여도가 크게 감소하였다. 다섯째, 사회보험소득의 불평등 기여도는 1999~2002년에 증가하고 2002~2008년에 감소하였다.

Keywords

• Elderly;
• Income Inequality;
• Decomposition by subgroup;
• Decomposition by income source

• 노인;
• 소득불평등;
• 집단별 분해;
• 소득원천별 분해;