Measuring active aging in a non-EU context: the case of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The paper details a transparent methodological pathway for applying the UNECE/European Commission Active Ageing Index (AAI) outside the EU, using the Republic of Moldova as a case study. Building on earlier national AAI editions (2016, 2020), we describe a reproducible approach that triangulates official statistics, census-based structural covariates, and survey microdata; specifies principled proxies where original indicators are unavailable; and conducts robustness checks on weights, thresholds, and missingness. The same architecture will underpin forthcoming 2024 estimates for Moldova, integrating multiple data sources to maximize comparability with EU practice and to ensure transparent reporting. Beyond the case study, the paper positions this pathway as a practical blueprint for monitoring active ageing in heterogeneous statistical environments, enhancing policy relevance while maintaining clarity about assumptions and limits of comparability.