Taiwan old age allowance policy : effects on saving and consumption

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Due to population aging, weakening of family-based support, growing number of poor people and greater risk of poverty for elders, old-age income support is becoming an issue of growing importance throughout Asia. The main purpose of this dissertation is to provide a better understanding of how and to what extent the introduction of an important social assistance program in Taiwan - the Old Age Allowance (OAA) - in the mid-1990s affected the eligible low income households savings and consumption. This study also contributes to the literature by providing direct evidence on whether the OAA has a positive impact on the beneficiaries.