Current Research

Aging, Disability and Work (with Wayne Simpson)

The process of aging affects life style, work patterns, and earnings. As Canadians age, their desire and ability to work and earn income may wane, particularly if they experience functional limitations, some of which may be disabling. The links among aging, onset of functional limitations, and labour market participation is fairly intuitive. Past Canadian studies of these phenomena have been restricted, by necessity, to cross sectional data sets such as Census, post Census surveys, or the occasional special one-time survey. These data allow one to associate characteristics such as age or gender with disability status and other variables of interest such as income or earnings. Because cross sectional data measure income, disability status and age at a common point in time, it is impossible to discern the process, and consequences, of a disability onset. In other words, it is not possible to gauge the work and lifestyle of the same individuals before, and after, the onset of disability; and the consequence of the disability in terms of labour activity, income etc. resulting from the disability; and whether the effects are different arising from the age at which the disability occurs. For example, disability onsets when individuals are "young", or "mature", or "in the prime of their life" may have quite different implications. Questions such as these can only be resolved with longitudinal (i.e., panel) data of sufficient detail, which, hitherto, have not existed in Canada.

This study attempts to examine the labour market experience of persons with disabilities and compare their economic circumstances and opportunities before and after the onset of their disability, as well as comparable Canadians without disabilities during the same time interval.

Status: Articles completed; others in progress

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