Does household help prevent loneliness among the elderly?:An evaluation of a policy reform in the Netherlands

METHODS: We use SHARE data collected during the period 2004-2013 to compare levels of loneliness among older adults in the Netherlands and those in 9 other European countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland). We use a synthetic control method (SCM) based on aggregate data. To check the robustness of our results we also apply a difference-in-differences (DiD) estimator that allows us to estimate the effects of policy changes using individual level data. RESULTS: In 2004, the prevalence of loneliness ranged between 6.5% in the Netherlands and 15.... Mehr ...