Poverty and elderly labor supply in Thailand

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of poverty on elderly labor force participation and investigate the relationship between poverty and the intensity of work (i.e., working days). Labor supply by the elderly is increasingly one of the most concerning issues in developing countries. Based on studies on the elderly, researchers have made significant findings regarding the labor participation rates of older adults. However, there is a lack of research on the relationship between the labor force participation rate and poverty among the elderly in Thailand. This study used the probit regression model and Tobit regression model and found that the impact of poverty on both labor participation and work intensity showed positive relationships. The elderly is more likely to participate in labor as their income increases, and older people living in poverty work fewer hours. These findings can support the further development of the government's elderly subsidy policy to improve the income status of the elderly, reduce their labor participate rate and improve the happiness index of the elderly in their later years.