Multidimensional Poverty among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in India: Insights from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (Lasi)

Aditya Singh, Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Anshika Singh, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

As individuals age, health issues and dependency often increase, heightening the risk of multidimensional poverty. This study investigates the dynamics of multidimensional poverty among middle aged and older adults in India. We utilized LASI Wave-1 (2017-18) data, covering 59,738 individuals aged 46 and above. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was calculated using the Alkire-Foster method and included five dimensions: education, health, living standards, social security, and employment/household consumption, with 14 indicators. 84% of sampled individuals are multidimensionally poor, with an intensity of 53%. The MPI value is 0.44, indicating that 4 out of 10 individuals are living in multidimensional poverty, adjusted for intensity. There is notable state-level variation, with MPI ranging from 65% in Himachal Pradesh to 90.5% in Bihar. Social security and education are the major contributors, accounting for 33.1% and 26.6% of the MPI, respectively. Pension and health insurance show high ratios in both uncensored and censored counts. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions for middle-aged and older adults. Enhancing social security and health systems, improving access to health insurance and pensions, and addressing chronic disease management, daily living assistance, and mental health support are essential for reducing multidimensional poverty in this demographic.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population Ageing, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations, Economic Demography

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