Consumption by the elderly in "unipersonal" and "living with a spouse" family arrangements: an analysis per regions in the country, from POF data (2008/2009)

OBJECTIVE: To identify and to compare, based on microdata from POF/IBGE (2008/2009), the types of goods and services consumed by the elderly of "unipersonal" families and "residing with the spouse" in the different regions in the country. METHODS: Descriptive, quantitative and transversal study that used microdata of POF/IBGE (2008/2009) using social-demographic variables and goods and services consumed by the elderly of the two previously mentioned arrangements. Data were extracted using STATA software and statistically analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: The highest expenses in relation to expenditure categories analyzed were for the elderly who lived with their spouse and lived in the Southern Region of the country in both family arrangements studied. Total household income was the factor that had the greatest influence on the consumption of goods and services among family arrangements. CONCLUSION: In both family arrangements members studied, those who resided in the Southern Region are those with the biggest spending, once presented higher income. Soon, one realizes that unequal distribution of income in the country is a factor that influences the consumption of goods and services, since income is directly related to purchasing power.