Rural women's economic realities

The economic position of many elders has improved over the past few decades. Several groups of elders remain disadvantaged, however, including nonmetropolitan elders and women in any setting. This study examines differences in household income and poverty rates for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan women ages 55 and over in 1970, 1980 and 1990. Comparison of median incomes for women the same age across birth cohorts reveals that much of the improvement in women's economic well-being occurs because younger cohorts have higher incomes when they enter older ages. There also is evidence that incomes decline as the cohort ages. Nonmetro women have lower incomes and higher poverty rates than metro women in every comparison, even when demographic characteristics are controlled. While the metro/nonmetro income gap declines from 1970 to 1980, it increases from 1980 to 1990. The largest income gap occurs for women ages 55 to 64 in 1990, the youngest cohort examined, offering no evidence to support convergence of household incomes among metro and nonmetro older women in the near future.