Time use of old and very old Berliners: Productive and consumptive activities as functions of resources

Abstract

Objectives. The aims of this study were to examine time use of elderly women and men and to explain age- and gender-related variance in activity levels in terms of differences in available resources. Methods. Activities reported in an elderly sample stratified for age and gender (N = 485, Age: 70-103 years) were aggregated into three classes: regenerative, productive, and consumptive activities and regressed on income, presence of a partner in the household, education, walking mobility, and labor force participation. Results. Levels in productive and consumptive activities were decreased in the old-old. Moreover, young-old women spent more time working in the household than any other group. Most of the age- and gender-related variance in activity levels could be explained by differences in available resources. For men, living with a partner was associated with less time spent for productive activities and enhanced leisure time, whereas for women, the reverse was observed. The expected reduction of unpaid work time as a function of income (income effect) was not observed. Discussion. Elderly individuals do contribute to societal production. Allocation of time to productive and consumptive activities is a function of available resources, amounts and effects of which differ for young-old and old-old as well as for women and men.