Comparisons of changes in income and expenditures in old age for single-person households and married couple' households: Focusing on differences between 2010 and 2020

We examined how household income, household expenditure, and itemized expenditure rates change when young elderly (65-74 years old) become elderly (75-84 years old) 10 years later, and whether there are differences by household type (single-person households, married couple' households). We also examined whether household type affects the difference in itemized expenditure (2020-2010). To do so, we used the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), which includes 856 older adults aged 65 to 74 as of the 3rd wave (2010). By household type, there were 195 single-person households and 197 married couple' households. A paired sample t-test was conducted to examine the changes in household income, household expenditure, and itemized expenditure ratio between 2010 (3rd) and 2020 (8th) for all seniors and by household type, and a regression analysis was conducted to examine how household type affects the difference in itemized expenditure from 2020 (8th) to 2010 (3rd). The results showed that income increased significantly in 2020 (Wave 8) compared to 2010 (Wave 3). The overall expenditure on living expenses and eating out increased significantly for the total elderly, single-person households, and married couple' households, and the proportion of housing expenses in living expenses decreased significantly. In addition, when looking at the difference in expenditure by item by household type, it was found that household type significantly affected the difference in food expenditure. This shows that the difference in food expenditures increased among single-person households compared to among married couple' households. Based on the research results, support measures for elderly single-person households and on-site education services for the elderly were proposed.