Biography
Name: Yifan Ge
University: University of Southampton
Title of research: Women’s pension entitlement in the UK: Understanding who may have been left under-provisioned by recent changes in state pension age
Flagship datasets using: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings linked to 2011 Census – England & Wales
Supervisor: Professor Athina Vlachantoni
Please tell us about your PhD project
The Pension Act 1995 and 2011 raised women’s state pension age from 60 to 65 in 2018. Many women were unaware of these changes and had little time to adjust their pension plans. Therefore, this project aims to examine the socio-economic and demographic factors of subgroups most affected by recent reforms in the SPA.
What are your key takeaways from the ADR UK PhD Annual Gathering 2025?
This event has provided an excellent opportunity for us to learn about the latest updates, connect with peers, academics, and policymakers, and explore how we can address social problems in the UK using administrative data with high research potential.
Are there any speakers, session or presentation that particularly resonated with you? And why?
The presentation from Dr. Ezgi Kaya and the breakout discussion with her were very inspiring. Her experiences with the ASHE_Census datasets have deepened my understanding of the feasibility of the ASHE_2011 census dataset and further refined my exploration of potential future research directions.
How has the event impacted your perspective on your research?
The event has provided me with valuable insights that have influenced the way I think about my research. It’s helped me consider new approaches and potential areas of focus and has given me a broader understanding of the tools and data available. The discussions and presentations have also encouraged me to think more critically about how my work can contribute to ongoing conversations in the field.
Did the event inspire any new ideas for your current or future research? Can you please share with us your next steps for your research following the event?
Yes, this event has given me new insights into the structure of my project and some of my research questions may change. I will continue to complete the relevant data analysis and build my thesis in accordance with the university’s requirements.