Brazilian Population Ageing: Differences in Well-Being by Rural and Urban Differences

Ana Amelia Camarano, Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA)

This paper discusses the relationship between ageing and dependence and the role of the Social Security policy in Brazil. Four dimensions of elderly life are considered: familial arrangements, health conditions, economic activities and income. It was seen that Brazilian elderly are living longer and better. Poverty and the proportion of elderly without any earnings whatsoever decreased dramatically. Relative better life conditions experienced by the elderly population are contrasted with the effects of the difficulties faced by the young population. This means unemployment, violence, drugs, teen-age pregnancy, marital disruption, etc. There has been an increase in the time adult children spend as dependents of their parents. The composition of the families with elderly living in has changed to become more complex than the expected “empty nest”. As a result, there has been a change of status for the elderly, modifying their traditional role of dependent to that of provider.