Mobility of the elderly in Peru: Life course, labour and the rise of a pensioner economy in a Peruvian peasant community

Abstract

This case study combines economic and life course history to highlight new forms of inequality. While a previous generation of industrial workers had jobs with benefits, their children have become a precariat. Peru is no exception, despite its booming resource economy. In a context of continuing strong inter-generational ties, pensioners from the community of Allpachico support their precariat children and receive personalized elder care in return. State-funded community development through participatory budgeting, an attempt to stave off the ‘resource curse’, has provided residential services that can ease pensioners’ senior years. This permits them to choose whether to live in their community of origin or elsewhere. In contrast, elderly women and men without pensions may have to leave their peasant community homes to be cared for by their urban precariat children. Local economies that are oriented to pensioners’ needs, however, are necessarily unstable since pensions cannot be inherited and the neoliberal economy generates few new jobs.