Presentation in IAGG-ER 2019. 23-25 May 2019 Gothenburg, Sweden

1. A Need of Better Tailored
Regional Active Ageing Policies:
Sub-national Analysis of Active
Ageing in Europe
IAGG-ER 2019
Gothenburg
25 May 2019
Modes of actively ageing: changes along time
and socioeconomic inequalities in Active
Ageing Index in the region of Biscay (Spain)
Yolanda González-Rábago, Unai Martín, Amaia Bacigalupe [University of the Basque
Country (UPV/EHU)]
and Sergio Murillo [Government of Biscay]

2. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Index
I. Introduction to the Active Ageing Index (AAI)
II. AAI in a NUTS 3: when, why and how
III. Results since 2014: evolution in a four-years period
IV. Inequalities in active ageing: educational level as a determinant
in actively ageing
V. Conclusions and looking forward

3. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
I. Introduction to the Active Ageing Index (AAI)
The Active Ageing Index (AAI) is a tool to measure the untapped
potential of older people for active and healthy ageing at national and
subnational levels
A project managed jointly by the European Commission's Directorate
General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), and
the Population Unit of the United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe (UNECE).
Developed within the framework of the 2012 European Year for Active
Ageing and Solidarity between Generations (EY2012)

4. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Every two years measurement
since 2010 in the 28 European
Union countries
Other countries: Norway, Iceland,
Georgia, Serbia, Turkey, Republic
of Moldavia, Russian Federation,
Canada…
Constructed from 22 indicators,
which are grouped into 4 domains
In some contexts a deeper analysis
has done, measuring the AAI at the
subnational level and examining
the potential inequalities, mainly,

5. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
II. AAI in a NUTS 3: when, why and how
Biscay: 1.150.000 inhabitants
75% in metropolitan area of Bilbao
112 municipalities
Life expectancy: 80.2 (men) 86.1 (women)
GDP per capita: 32.822 €
Unemployment rate: 12.7%
2014 2025 2030
55+ 34.4 41.3 44.5
65+ 21.2 25.9 28.7
85+ 7.0 8.3 9.5

6. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
The Government of Biscay`s proposal: as part of the activities of the
Observatory for the Elderly of Biscay – a participatory organization
bringing together social, economic and political agents related to the
elderly in Biscay-
Purpose: raise awareness about the relevance of active ageing,
support evidence-based policy making aimed at improving active
ageing, and improve monitoring and accountability to citizens related
to what the provincial government is doing in this area
Collaboration with the Department of Sociology of the University of
the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

7. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Three measurements: 2014, 2016, 2018
Combined methodology:
- Using secondary data sources: Eustat- Basque Institute of
Statitistics
- Using a primary database (ad hoc survey)
10 indicators
secondary data
12 indicators
survey
22 indicators
final AAI
-Employment rates
-Living alone/couple
-Income and poverty
- LE/HLE

8. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
III. Results since 2014: evolution in a four-years period
General increase in overall score,
higher in men
Women lower scores than men in all years
Gender gap doesn’t decrease
Total Men Women Gender gap
2014 34.5 36.7 33.1 -3.6
2016 35.4 36.9 34.6 -2.2
2018 38.7 41.3 36.6 -4.7
-10.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
Figure 1. Overall AAI in Biscay 2014-2018. Total, men, women and
gender gap.

9. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Progressive increase in
Employment domain
Significant rise between 2014-16
that stops in 2018 in
Independent, healthy and secure
living
General improvement in 2nd and
4th domain, with ups and downs
Figure 2. Domains AAI in Biscay 2014-2018. Total population
Employment Participation in society
Independent, healty
and secure living
Capacity for active
ageing
2014 23.2 20.9 65.3 62.5
2016 27.5 19.1 70.8 60.0
2018 28.9 24.4 70.8 64.9
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0

10. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Great gender differences in
Employment, with a slight
improvement since 2014
Advantaged position of women in
Participation in Society
disappeared
Disadvantaged position of women
in the 3rd and 4th domain and
overall
General negative evolution of
Figure 3. Gender gap in domains and overall AAI in Biscay 2014-
2018. Total population.
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
Employment Participation in
society
Independent,
healty and secure
living
Capacity for active
ageing
Overall AAI
2014 2016 2018 Variation 2018/2014

11. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
IV. Inequalities in active ageing: educational level as a determinant
Figure 4. Overall AAI in EU28 countries and Biscay by educational
level. 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
Great educational
differences in
overall scores
Lower educated
people score far
from the
intermediate
educated people,
and have an score
28% lower than the
higher educated
group

12. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Figure 5. Employment domain in EU28 countries and Basque Country by
educational level. 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
50.0
Luxembourg
Greece
Croatia
Slovenia
BCprimary
Belgium
Malta
Spain
Slovakia
BCsecondary
Poland
France
Austria
BCgeneral
Hungary
Italy
Romania
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Portugal
CzechRepublic
BCtertiary
Ireland
Finland
Netherlands
Lithuania
Latvia
UnitedKingdom
Germany
Denmark
Estonia
Sweden
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
1.1
Employment
rate 55-59
1.2
Employment
rate 60-64
1.3
Employment
rate 65-69
1.4
Employment
rate 70-74
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
Figure 6. Employment indicators in Biscay
by educational level. 2018
Large distances between educational groups
Better employment rates of higher educated population,
although the position in the ranking continues being lower
than in other domains
Clear educational gradient in later working years, no

13. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Figure 7. Participation in society domain in EU28 countries and Biscay by
educational level. 2018
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
Bulgaria
Lithuania
Hungary
Greece
Portugal
Poland
Romania
Estonia
Slovenia
Croatia
Germany
Slovakia
CzechRepublic
Spain
Italy
Latvia
Biscayprimary
Austria
Ireland
Cyprus
UnitedKingdom
Malta
Denmark
Finland
Luxembourg
Biscaygeneral
Biscaysecondary
Sweden
France
Netherlands
Belgium
Biscaytertiary
Figure 8. Participation in society indicators in Biscay
by educational level. 2018
Same large differences between educational groups, but in a
general better position in comparison with EU28
Higher educated people would have the highest score in
EU28
Clear educational gradient in doing voluntary activities,
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
2.1 Voluntary
activities
2.2 Care to
children,
grandchildren
2.3 Care to
infirm or
disabled
2.4 Political
participation
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies

14. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Figure 9. Independent, healthy and secure living in EU28 countries and Biscay by
educational level. 2018
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
Latvia
Romania
Greece
Croatia
Lithuania
Hungary
Poland
Bulgaria
Estonia
Portugal
Italy
Slovakia
Biscayprimary
Malta
Biscaygeneral
Slovenia
CzechRepublic
Cyprus
Spain
Biscaysecondary
Belgium
Luxembourg
Germany
Ireland
UnitedKingdom
France
Biscaytertiary
Netherlands
Finland
Austria
Denmark
Sweden
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
3.7 Physical safety 3.8 Lifelong learning
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
Figure 10. Independent, healthy and secure
living indicators in Biscay by educational level
2018
Smaller differences in scores in the 3rd domain (7 points), but
different position among EU28 countries
Not big differences in the feeling of physical safety, and a
big gap in lifelong learning between secondary and tertiary
studies

15. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Figure 11. Independent, healthy and secure living indicators in Biscay by
educational level. 2018
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
3.4 Relative median
income
3.5 No poverty risk 3.6 No severe material
deprivation
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
3.1 Physical exercise 3.2 No unmet needs of health
and dental care
3.3 Independent living
arrangements
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
Clear educational gradient in doing physical exercise,
in the living arrangements, as well as in the financial
security indicators
Not big differences in unmet needs of health care
(good news!) and in relative median income when

16. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
Figure 12. Capacity for an active ageing in EU28 countries and Biscay by
educational level. 2018
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
Romania
Lithuania
Croatia
Greece
Latvia
Hungary
Poland
Slovakia
Estonia
Portugal
Cyprus
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Italy
Biscayprimary
CzechRepublic
Spain
Austria
Malta
France
Luxembourg
Biscaysecondary
Belgium
Finland
Ireland
Germany
UnitedKingdom
Biscaygeneral
Netherlands
Denmark
Sweden
Biscaytertiary
50.0
55.0
60.0
65.0
70.0
75.0
4.1 RLE achievement of 50 years
at age 55
4.2 Share of healthy life years in
the RLE at age 55
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
4.3 Mental well-being 4.4 Use of ICT 4.5 Social connectedness
Primary studies Secondary studies Tertiary studies
Figure 13. Capacity for an active ageing indicators
in Biscay by educational level. 2018
Same pattern as in 2nd domain. Higher educated
people scoring better than Sweden
Gradient in LE and HLE, mental well-being, and big
inequalities in the use of Internet. No differences in
social relationships

17. Modes of actively ageing: changes along time and socioeconomic inequalities in AAI in Biscay
IAGGER-2019
V. Conclusions and looking forward
AAI results at the sub-national level increase knowledge of what is
happening at an institutional level that has policy’s responsabilities to
make the difference in active ageing
AAI as a tool to measure and to monitor throughout time the contribution
of older population to our more and more aged societies, but also a tool to
identify inequalities in later life
An imperative need for looking at the social inequalities in active ageing: a
general approach may make invisible a very unequal situation of elderly
and their opportunities to age actively and healthy
Take into consideration the different social structure of the countries for a

18. Thank you for you attention
yolanda.gonzalezr@ehu.eus
@YolandaGRabago
@Opik_ikerketa
Research Group on Social Determinants
of Health and Demographic Change