An Analysis of Housing Poverty Determinants in the Low Income Middle-aged and Elderly Households with the Schwabe Index

We estimate housing poverty determinants in the low-income middle-aged and elderly households using both the Schwabe index and the 14th-18th Korea Welfare Panel Study data. Empirical findings are as follows: first, as of 2022, 28.3% of them were in housing poverty. The biggest item on it was the water and heating cost, the index of households with and without loans has increased consecutively and the lowest index, respectively. Second, the index has little difference between the single-family house and apartment households, but that of households living in other types, i.e, shanties, containers, and cellars, etc. was relatively high. Third, both the single-person and the female single-person household, households with loans, and those who pay monthly rent or live in Seoul are more likely to face housing poverty. However, those who graduated from college, participate in economic activities, live in multiple households or under the lease on a deposit basis(jeonse), or in metropolitan cities, and the higher current income and total assets are less likely to encounter it. These suggest the following policy measures: providing low-income middle-aged and elderly households with opportunities to participate in economic activities, lowering housing benefit standards, supplying rental houses without payment, and partial assistance with regular repair costs.