The impact of migration on elderly left behind in Moldova
Franziska Gassmann, Melissa Siegel, Michaella Vanore & Jennifer Waidler
#2012-082
The purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate the well-being of
elderly left behind by migrant household members in Moldova. Using data
derived from a nationally-representative, large-scale household survey
conducted between September 2011 and February of 2012 among 3,255
households in all regions of Moldova (except Transnistria) with a total
sample of 1,743 households containing at least one elderly person aged
60 or over, we empirically look at different dimensions of elderly
well-being. Well-being of elderly in Moldova is broken down by 5
different dimensions of well-being: physical health and independence,
material well-being, housing well-being, social well-being, and
emotional health. Each indicator is examined individually and then
aggregated together as an index. Well-being is also broken down by age
group and migration status of the household (current migrant, return
migrant and no migration experience). Migration in and of itself does
not seem to have a negative impact on the well-being of the elderly in
any of the dimensions analyzed. The age of the elderly and the material
living standard experienced by the household are much stronger
predictors of well-being in a number of different dimensions. The
results suggest that migration does not play a significant role in
shaping elderly well-being outcomes, contrary to popular belief.
Key words: migration, care-giver migration, elderly poverty,
multi-dimensional poverty, Moldova
JEL classification: I32, J14, J61