Most of the previous studies on the disabled poverty have only compared incomes between the disabled and the non-disabled and analysed causes of the gap if it exists. These studies also make sense. But analysing causes of the disabled poverty among th...
Most of the previous studies on the disabled poverty have only compared incomes between the disabled and the non-disabled and analysed causes of the gap if it exists. These studies also make sense. But analysing causes of the disabled poverty among the disabled is more important when considering policy availability and current poverty status of the disabled. Also, many previous studies analysed causes of the disabled poverty without considering segmented structures of the disability type and degree. These approaches makes it difficult to find the reason of disabled poverty according to several disability types and degrees and tend to overestimate the significance of variables by omitting autocorrelation problems. Hence, this study analysed causes of the disabled poverty according to the disability type and degree and tried to overcome autocorrelation problems through using hierarchical generalized linear model(HGLM). Main results of this study can be summarized as follows :
First, this study found causes of the disabled poverty according to several disability types and degrees. 1) Sex, age, education, place of residence, health, employment status, number of household, whether or not householder, discrimination when finding job and discrimination on the job significantly affected the poverty probability of persons who have disabilities in external part of body. 2) Education, health, employment status, number of household, whether or not householder and discrimination on the job significantly affected the poverty probability of persons who have disabilities in inner part of body. 3) Age, place of residence, number of household and whether or not householder affected the poverty probability of persons with mental disabilities.
Second, variables which affect the disabled poverty were different according to disability degrees. 1) Sex, age, education, place of residence, health, employment status, number of household, whether or not householder, discrimination when finding job and discrimination on the job significantly affected the poverty probability of persons who have slight disability. 2) Age, education, number of household and whether or not householder significantly affected the poverty probability of persons who have severe disability.
Third, there were some differences between results of general logistic regression model and those of hierarchical generalized linear model(HGLM). This means that autocorrelation problems in general logistic regression model were solved somewhat. So we can say the coffecients of variables in HGLM were not overestimated statistically.
Fourth, group effects of disability type and degree were significantly different in HGLM and ICC(interclass correlation cofficient) were calculated as 26.8%(disability type) and 15.0%(disability degree) respectively. This means that group variables like disability type and degree explain significant portion in total variance of the disabled poverty. In other words, these results imply that disability type and degree are important factors in the disabled poverty studies.
We can draw several political implications through the above results as follows :
First, government must consider disability characteristics like the disability type and degree when making the disabled poverty reduction policies. To begin with, poverty reduction policies for persons with mental disabilities and who have severe disability because these persons have been suffered from chronic poverty status for a long time. Especially, persons with mental disabilities more experienced social prejudice and discrimination and educated less than other disability types, and so these disability types are very vulnerable to poverty.
Second, age, place of residence, number of household and whether or not householder affected the poverty probability of persons with mental disabilities. So poverty reduction policies for persons with mental disabilities must be focused on the middle and older ages, residents in rural area and single households.
Third, for persons with severe disabilities, age, education, number of household and whether or not householder significantly affected the poverty probability. So government must have an attention to the older ages, less educated persons, small size households and householders specially. With these policies, increase of disability pension amount, increment of employment rate through activation of social company, support of school expenses and learning process and assistive technological support in daily living and working place are also needed to reduce the disabled poverty.