Abstract:

A summary of the trends in income distribution in Australia with a focus on aged pensioners. The average incomes of older persons have increased at a faster rate than the population generally and their average expenditure has also risen. The welbeing of older persons in Australia in future will be impacted by superannuation coverage, increasing labour foce particpation among women, higher real wages, higher levels of housing wealth. Separated, divorced and single older women appear to have lower incomes and assets in retirement than men and couples. The compression of life course events related to women being older at the birth of the first child and increased educational partcipation among young people may also impact people's capacity for self-provision in retirement.