An Analysis of the Determinants of None Home-bound Consumption Expenditures among Older Single-person Households with a Focus on Transportation, Communication, Culture & Recreation, and congratulatory/Condolence & Social Expenditures

초록

The objective of this study is to explore the determinants of none home-bound consumption expenditures of older Koreans among single-person households, with a focus on transportation, communication, culture and recreation, congratulatory/condolence and social expenditures. Results from this study offer several conclusions. First, expenditures for blessings and condolences involving family and relatives were prioritized over food expenditures among older single-person households. Second, the problem of digital divide persists among single-person households who are older and less educated due to their decreased mobility and limited use of communication devices. Those with a lower income were found to be less mobile, while those residing in areas with a weak public transport network spent more on transportation. Third, those with greater assets and a higher level of education spent more on culture and recreation such as films, books, travel, and sports. Men with a higher income were more likely to enjoy cultural and recreational activities. This was also the case for women with greater assets. Fourth, congratulatory/condolences and social expenditures were higher for those with greater asset, more asset-backed securities, job security, higher educational level, more religious ties, and residence in metropolitan cities. Findings from this study offer several policy implications. First, a public transport system should be developed in areas other than Seoul for older populations facing mobility restrictions in non homebound consumption expenditures. Second, a more affordable and convenient cost-saving policy for communication expenditures is needed to resolve the digital among older single-person households. Third, customized household welfare should be provided, in consideration of the differences of determinants of none homebound consumption expenditures among older single-person households. More cultural/recreational programs and facilities are required for