The Gender Pension Gap in the Aging Societies of East Asia

World Bank

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: PENSIONS;    PENSION REFORM;    GENDER GAP;   

RP-ID  :  114037

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Over the years pension systems have beenan essential policy tool for the economic protection ofolder adults across countries and regions. But in a contextof widespread inequality, not everyone enjoys the same levelof protection. Because women’s life courses are differentfrom men’s, pension systems often have different outcomesfor women and men. With populations aging in East Asia, thegender pension gap is affecting more and more women. Thisnote summarizes the results of a study that examined pensionpolicies and their gender dimensions in several countries ofEast Asia. The study examined the labor force behavior ofwomen aged 45 years and over in China, Vietnam, Thailand,Indonesia, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and thePhilippines, investigating the key policy and behavioraldrivers of their observed labor force participation andwithdrawal. Empirical and policy analysis is supplementedwith qualitative insights from focus groups and individualinterviews with women in the focus countries who are nearingretirement age or have already withdrawn from the workforce.The findings fill important and policy-relevant knowledgegaps on pensions and retirement and on gender differentialsin endowments, economic opportunities, and well-being atolder ages.