Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity: What differences across the EU countries?

Transcription

1 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 2 nd World Assembly on Ageing (in Madrid), and the second cycle of review and appraisal of the implementation of MIPAA and its RIS ( ). 1

2 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 Source: European Economic Forecast - Spring

3 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 3

4 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 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]. 4

5 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). 2 Active ageing experiences 2.1) Voluntary work 2.2) Labour market 5

6 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 6

7 2.2a What potential in terms of mobilizable resources of older workers? MT PL HU SI IT BE LU FR SK RO EL AT ES BG EU- CZ LV LT PT IE EE NL FI UK CY DK DE SE b Labour market rigidity a factor: the cliff-edge retirement is still a common phenomenon! part-time employment rate across age groups, 2010 EU-LFS

8 2.2b Lack of education is a hindrance Employment Rate of workers aged 55-64, 2010 EU-LFS c Trends in labour market engagement (among workers aged 55-64) offer good news! Employment Rate (on the basis of ILOSTAT, EU-LFS ) Laggards rising, but still fall below average (except BG) 8

9 2.2c Trends in labour market engagement among workers aged Employment Rate Average performers largely stagnant (except DE / NL) EU-LFS cTrends in labour market engagement among workers aged Employment Rate High performers showing mixed experiences (SE in a league of its own!) EU-LFS

10 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 10

11 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 11

12 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 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 12

13 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 13

14 4 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 (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). 14