A qualitative investigation into financial well-being and social capital of retired government school teachers

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the financial well-being and social capital of Indian retirees. The paper investigates the extent of subjective financial well-being, the dependence on debts and the extent of bridging and bonding social capital of retirees with similar retirement pensions to understand the main issues they face. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 retired government schoolteachers. Two individuals transcribed the interviews after a pilot study, which helped remove repetitive responses. After ensuring the authenticity of the transcripts, the data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Findings The study's key findings reveal that retirees, armed with a clear understanding of their retirement income, exhibit a sense of financial control. At the same time, the presence of debt and the potential for high healthcare expenses adversely impact their subjective financial well-being. In terms of social capital, retirees predominantly rely on support from close-knit communities of friends and neighbors, as against their children. Additionally, retirees who migrate from their native places encounter challenges in establishing bridging social capital. Originality/value This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on financial well-being, specifically within the context of vulnerable groups such as retirees in India, where the absence of a state-supported retirement system adds a distinctive dimension. Against the backdrop of India's traditional societal framework, the research extends the existing literature by delving into the nuanced effects of evolving social dynamics on the social capital of retirees.