New study shows that poverty among seniors is falling

A new study from the Caledon Institute of Social Policy by Ed Tamagno is out. It shows that our retirement income system is performing well under the strain of an ageing population. For example, in 1980, 21.3 percent of all seniors in Canada – more than one in five – had low incomes as measured by the low-income cut-offs after tax. By 2004, this had decreased to only 5.6 percent – about one in 18.

Tamagno also looks at trends in coverage betond OAS and CPP to private plans and compares defined benefit and defined contribution coverage in Canada. Surely not gossipy stuff, but important public policy work as we plan for retirement, individually and societally.

The study is available here. Probably some good suggested reading for Messrs. Rae and Brison as they prepare the new Red Book.