This paper combines SHARE Corona Survey and SHARE Wave 7 data for 25 European countries and Israel ( N = 40,919) with institutional and epidemic-related country characteristics to investigate healthcare access for Europeans aged 50+ during the outbreak of COVID-19. We use a micro–macro approach to examine whether and to what extent barriers to accessing healthcare measured by reported unmet healthcare needs vary within and between countries. We consider various aspects of barriers and distinguish among: (1) respondents who forewent medical treatment because they were afraid of becoming infected with the Coronavirus; (2) respondents who had pre-scheduled medical appointments postponed by health providers due to the outbreak; and (3) respondents who tried to arrange a medical appointment but were denied one. Limited access to healthcare during the initial outbreak was more common for the occupationally active, women, the more educated and those living in urban areas. A bad economic situation, poor overall health and higher healthcare utilisation were robust predictors of unmet healthcare. People aged 50+ in countries of ‘Old’ Europe, countries with higher universal health coverage and stricter containment and closure policies were more likely to have medical services postponed. Policymakers should address the healthcare needs of older people with chronic health conditions and a poor socio-economic status who were made more vulnerable by this pandemic. In the aftermath of the health crisis, public health systems might experience a great revival in healthcare demand, a challenge that should be mitigated by careful planning and provision of healthcare services.

While we know that living alone is often associated with greater risk of financial hardship, we have limited knowledge on the possible link between the availability of public support and independent living. We use data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study and the 2011–2015 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe to compare income and wealth profiles of the population aged 60 and above who are living alone in the United States and 19 European countries. We find that the likelihood of living alone is higher in generous welfare states, with social support and spending both positively associated with living alone. The relationship between personal resources and living alone has a smaller positive gradient in countries with robust welfare systems. The lack of adequate public support in less generous welfare states may constrain the ability of many low-income older adults without a partner to continue living independently.

Izvorni znanstveni rad Primljeno: 16. 7. 2010. Dvohraniteljski model obitelji postaje danas sve više norma u većini razvijenih zemalja. Cilj ovoga rada jest ispitati koliko je razvijena infrastruktura za usklađivanje obiteljskoga i poslovnoga života i kakav model obitelji preferiraju zaposlene žene u Hrvatskoj. Iz anketnog istraživanja na uzorku od 1309 zaposlenih žena od 20 do 39 godina statističkim tehnikama ispitali smo preferirane oblike obitelji i stavove o položaju žena na tržištu rada. Rezultati pokazuju da među zaposlenim ženama velika većina preferira model dvaju hranitelja, gdje oba roditelja rade plaćeni posao izvan kućanstva. Isto tako, mlađe generacije žena imaju liberalnije stavove o položaju žena na tržištu rada. Povećati zaposlenost žena, a istodobno povećati fertilitet, sigurno nije i neće biti nimalo lak zadatak, no razina fertiliteta u pojedinim zemljama gdje je stopa zaposlenosti žena vrlo visoka pokazuje kako to nije nemoguće. Zaključujemo da je nemogućnost rada sa skraćenim radnim vremenom u Hrvatskoj zapreka za žene koje žele kombinirati profesionalne i obiteljske obveze.Ključne riječi: fertilitet, usklađivanje poslovnih i obiteljskih obveza, zaposlene žene

Ovaj rad ispituje u kojoj je mjeri razina obrazovanja žena povezana s njihovim demografskim ponašanjem, prije svega s dobi rađanja prvoga djeteta i brojem djece. Svrha je rada ispitati postoji li i koliko je značajna razlika u dobi rađanja prvoga djeteta između žena s različitim stupnjevima obrazovanja. Isto tako, ispituje se koliko povećani obrazovni status djeluje na kvantum fertiliteta. U radu su multinomna logistička regresija i druge statističke tehnike primijenjene na proporcionalni kvotni uzorak od 1309 zaposlenih žena od 20 do 39 godina iz anketnog istraživanja provedenog 2007. godine u Hrvatskoj. Rezultati su pokazali kako postoje razlike u fertilitetu među ženama različite razine obrazovanja te da obrazovni status ima važnu ulogu u određivanju vremena fertiliteta. Prilikom oblikovanja mjera pronatalitetnih politika trebalo bi voditi računa o tome da najveću razliku između željenoga i ostvarenoga broja djece nalazimo kod visokoobrazovanih žena.Ključne riječi: fertilitet, dob pri prvom porodu, razina obrazovanja žena, zaposlene žene