ABSTRACT
The key to the income security of older people is, first and foremost, dependent on what individuals and families do. This chapter reviews approaches to maintaining income in older age in developing countries and explores the potential for feasible, sustainable and effective policies. It provides a discussion of pensions by misconceptions about the economics of old age: a failure to recognize that older people work and are part of family and community economies. The most common proposal for promoting competition in the provision of pensions is through 'privatization' of government-run activities: the aim is to boost organizational efficiency and raise the quality of the products/services provided. Older people's livelihoods, family lives and rural/urban issues are explored before an examination of social protection policies in developing countries. The challenges for reforming provision for old age in developing countries are set out along with the case for a partnerships based approach.
