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Productive engagement and ageing in productivist welfare regimes: questing for an age-friendly city in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2021

Zhuoyi Wen Open the ORCID record for Zhuoyi Wen [Opens in a new window] ,
Ka Ho Mok Open the ORCID record for Ka Ho Mok [Opens in a new window]  and
Padmore Adusei Amoah Open the ORCID record for Padmore Adusei Amoah [Opens in a new window]
Zhuoyi Wen
Affiliation:
Institute of Policy Studies, Asia Pacific Institute of Aging Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR)
Ka Ho Mok
Affiliation:
Institute of Policy Studies, School of Graduate Studies, Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR)
Padmore Adusei Amoah*
Affiliation:
Institute of Policy Studies, Asia Pacific Institute of Aging Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR) School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong (SAR)
*
*Corresponding author. Email: pamoah@LN.edu.hk, padmoreamoah@yahoo.com
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Abstract

The population aged 65 years and above in Hong Kong is projected to rise from 15 per cent in 2014 to 38.4 per cent in 2069. Therefore, the quest for creating age-friendly conditions and the promotion of active ageing has become a priority for the Hong Kong Government and stakeholders in the city. Using a cross-national comparative framework for productive engagement in later life, this article examines the predictors of productive engagement (perceived voluntary engagement) in two districts (the Islands and Tsuen Wan) of Hong Kong – a typical productivist welfare regime in Asia. Data were collected through a social survey to ascertain the perception of an age-friendly city and active ageing in 2016 and 2018 from 1,638 persons aged 60 years and older. The results indicate some differences in the perception of the key determinants in both districts, but the factors associated with productive engagement were consistent, namely social atmosphere, social provisions and the built environment. The findings are discussed within the broader discourse on social gerontology, age-friendly cities and productivist welfare regimes.

Keywords

productive ageingproductivist welfare regimeproductive engagementage-friendly cityHong Kongsustainable development
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 42 , Issue 11 , November 2022 , pp. 2510 - 2532
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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