17/06/2012
Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity:
What differences across the EU countries?
Drawn from the SSO Research Note prepared by Asghar Zaidi and Eszter Zólyomi
Drawn from the article by Asghar Zaidi, Katrin Gasior and Robert Manchin
Presented by Asghar Zaidi
Director of Research
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna
Professor of International Social Policy
School of Social Sciences
Centre for Research on Ageing / Centre for Population Change
Southampton University (UK)
The Context
This work is undertaken during:
The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity
Between Generations (EY2012)
The 10th anniversary of the 2nd World Assembly on
Ageing (in Madrid), and the second cycle of review
and appraisal of the implementation of MIPAA and
its RIS (2011-2013).
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The Context: Demographic transition leading to
rising shares of older people, especially in CEECs
Number of 65+ per 100 people of age 15-64, in 1960, 2010 and 2060
Source: European Commission (2009), data originally from Eurostat, EUROPOP2008
The Context: The financial crisis led to economic
crisis when growth took a plunge in 2009, and a
fragile recovery since then!
GDP growth (annual change in percent), 2006, 2009 and 2010
7.9 7.2
4.5
-5.2
5.3
-0.01
2011
Source: European Economic Forecast - Spring 2010
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The outline
1. Active ageing: Concept and measurement
1.1 What do we mean by active ageing?
1.2 A widely accepted definition comes from WHO!
1.3 The definition adopted here
2. Active ageing experiences
2.1 Contribution through voluntary work
2.2 Labour market engagement of older workers
3. Intergenerational solidarity
3.1 What does intergenerational solidarity (IGS) mean?
3.2 Importance of IGS in the light of international policy frameworks?
3.3 IGS measured by positive views of age groups towards each other
3.4 IGS a consensus of different generations on best way forward
4. Conclusions
1
Active ageing
Concept and measurement
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1.1 What do we mean by active ageing?
If ageing is to be a positive experience, for individuals concerned
and for societies, the life expectancy gains must be
accompanied by active and healthy years added to life.
In view of challenges arising from population ageing, more
people participating actively as they age, across various aspects
of society, in paid and unpaid roles, in domestic, family and
community life.
1.2 A widely accepted definition comes from WHO!
.... it comes from WHO’s Ageing and Life Course Programme, included in the
document to the Second UN World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, April 2002.
‘Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for
health, participation and security in order to enhance quality
of life as people age’
I.
The activity process implies opportunities to participate in social,
economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs, [and not just the ability to
be physically active or a formal engagement with the labour market].
II. The outcome of interest is the ‘quality of life’, which (obviously) refers
to physical, mental and social well being and participation and for
social and economic rights, [and not restricted to measures of material
well-being and/or physical health only].
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1.3 The definition adopted here is:
“Active ageing refers to the social ageing phenomenon in which,
with rising life expectancy on average, people are expected to
continue to participate longer in the formal labour market as well
as in other unpaid productive activities (such as volunteering)”
•
Here, the activity process is emphasised, but not (as yet) whether the ultimate
objective of enhancing QOL is achieved, as in WHO’s definition (from individual
perspective).
•
Also, no efforts towards measuring the positive implications of active ageing on the
size and shape of public services and finances and as well on the future growth are
realised (from the societal perspective).
•
‘Health Maintenance Activities’ (e.g. Walking a dog everyday) and ‘Autonomous
and Independent Living’ aspects are not considered (as yet).
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Active ageing experiences
2.1) Voluntary work
2.2) Labour market
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2.1a Participation in voluntary work, for 50+
Differences across age groups
On the basis of latest results from the SHARE database
2.1a Participation in Voluntary work, for 50+
Differences across education status
On the basis of latest results from the SHARE database
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2.2a What potential in terms of mobilizable
resources of older workers?
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
MT PL HU SI
IT
BE LU FR SK RO EL AT ES BG EU- CZ LV LT PT
27
25-54
65-74
IE EE NL FI UK CY DK DE SE
55-64
2.2b Labour market rigidity a factor: the cliff-edge
retirement is still a common phenomenon!
part-time employment rate across age groups, 2010
EU-LFS 2010
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2.2b Lack of education is a hindrance
Employment Rate of workers aged 55-64, 2010
EU-LFS 2010
2.2c Trends in labour market engagement (among
workers aged 55-64) offer good news!
Employment Rate
(on the basis of ILOSTAT, EU-LFS 2005-2010)
Laggards rising, but still fall below average (except BG)
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2.2c Trends in labour market engagement among
workers aged 55-64
Employment Rate
Average performers largely stagnant (except DE / NL)
EU-LFS 2005-2010
2.2cTrends in labour market engagement among
workers aged 55-64
Employment Rate
High performers showing mixed experiences (SE in a league of its own!)
EU-LFS 2005-2010
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3
Intergenerational solidarity
3.1 What does Intergenerational Solidarity mean?
It means that different age groups / generations have a positive
view of one another (but this is dependent upon the degree to
and the way in which different generations interact).
Also, it could mean that there is consensus between different
age groups / generations on the best way forward for their
societies
Source: OECD (2011) ‘Paying for the Past, Providing for the
Future: Intergenerational Solidarity’
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The intergenerational solidarity requires ‘fairness between
generations as well as opportunity to develop activities that
span the generations
Walker (2010) ‘The emergence and application of active ageing in Europe’
3.2 Importance of Intergenerational Solidarity in
the light of international policy frameworks
A first reference is in the conceptual framework for the
preparation and observance of the IYOP in 1999: “A society
for all ages would additionally enable the generations to
invest in one another and share in the fruits of that
investment, guided by the twin principles of reciprocity and
equity”
Source: United Nations (1995), ‘Conceptual framework of the programme for the
preparation and observance of the IYOP in 1999’, New York, pp.8
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“We are committed to promoting intergenerational solidarity
as one of the important pillars of social cohesion and of civil
society....... We encourage initiatives that raise public
awareness of the potential of young people and of older
persons and that promote the understanding of ageing and
intergenerational solidarity.”
Source: UNECE (2002). Regional Implementation Strategy for the Madrid
International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002. UNECE
Ministerial Conference on Ageing, Berlin
A reference in the Maastricht Treaty), after the amendments by
the Treaty of Lisbon, is important in making the solidarity
between generations an explicit aim of the European
Community. Article 3.3 mentions solidarity between
generations as one of the key aims of the European Union
towards promoting the well-being of European citizens:
“It (the Union) shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and
shall promote social justice and protection, equality between women
and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights
of the child”
Source: European Union (2010) ‘Consolidated Treaties of the Treaty on EU,
The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, and
Charter of Fundamental Rights’, pp.7
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3.3 IGS measured by positive views of different
generations towards each other
“Are older people a burden on society?”, percentage of respondents
3.4 IGS measured by consensus of different
generations on best way forward
“if older people work until a later age, fewer jobs will be available for
younger people?”, percentage of respondents
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Conclusions
Conclusions
Normative decisions unavoidable in measuring active ageing experiences
(i.e. how things should or ought to be, how to value them, which actions are right or
wrong? What impact?).
Important to link active ageing experiences to positive outcomes (how and
what forms of active ageing raise QOL of individuals concerned? What impact on the
financial sustainability of social welfare systems and on the social cohesion within the
society?)
Important cross-national variations in labour market engagement and other nonmarket productive activities of older people across EU countries – distinctive features for
Eastern European countries compared to the rest of EU should be understood better.
A rising trend of employment among workers aged 55-64 (not so for 65-74) in
many EU countries, though some countries experienced a clear dip after 2008 (in
particular EE and LV, but also other EE countries and NL).
Flexible and gradual retirement is still not a phenomenon in many EU countries
(especially in Eastern European countries where less than one-in-five of older workers
work part time, and also there is less tendency to be self-employed in old age).
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