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Policy briefs from project AgeWellAccounts

The AgeWellAccounts project (2016 joint call) studies how the different dimensions of wellbeing change over the life course and how they differ between countries. The aim is to identify the main determinants that influence wellbeing at each stage of life and to explore the relation between wellbeing and intergenerational support. This project published two policy policy briefs on: 

  • Fertility and territorial well-being in Italy
  • Inequalities in living standards across ages in France 

Fertility and territorial well-being in Italy

How is fertility related to social, economic and environmental quality? We try to answer this question with reference to Italy in the period 2010-2017 through the analysis of the association between the regional fertility rates and a rich system of regional indicators measuring various aspects of the social, economic and environmental quality. The results show that in regions best performing on the regional indicators fertility is higher than the national average. This happens in the North-Eastern areas of the country, while in the South and in the Islands the overall citizens life quality is at the lowest level and fertility continues to decline. This suggests that there is a need for active policies both at national and local level aiming to:

  • Reduce economic disparities between citizens
  • Improve the quality of the public services, especially those oriented towards the family and children.

Inequalities in living standards across ages in France

This research quantifies the inequalities in living standards across ages in France. We evaluate the standard of living of individuals using individualized disposable income and private consumption. Results based on econometric models reveal that for the whole population disposable income by age increases sharply (+43.7%) from ages 27 to 47. It levels out until 62 and finally rises moderately (+27.9%) until age 82. Furthermore, educational attainment decomposes living standards . The picture is very different for individuals without higher education. The increase in disposable income from ages 27 to 47 is much lower and significantly declines around the retirement age. Disposable income for those without higher education is 11% lower at age 62 compared to age 47.