Informal Support in Ageing Societies

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1 Informal Support in Ageing Societies The Elderly, the Family and the Welfare State Dependency Ratios Myth and Reality The Elderly as Providers and Recipients Future Challenges Policy Implications 1

2 Dependency Ratios Myth and Reality Old Age Dependency Ratio (65+/15-64) GER CHE JAP USA POL

3 Total Dependency Ratio (<20+>69/20-69) GER CHE JAP USA POL Key Points Shift of support from young to old Total dependency decreased since the 1950s, but will increase in next decades Societies did well with higher dependency ratios in the past (post war period) Dependency ratio depends on demographic structure AND (social) policy! 3

4 The Elderly as Providers and Recipients of Support Balance: Providers Minus Recipients SWE DNK FRA BEL NLD DEU CHE AUT CZE POL ESP GRC ITA IRL Total (50+) 4

5 Key Points Elderly are net providers of support in family and society Upwards & downwards, various kinds of support Most support to elderly is provided by elderly themselves Only oldest-old are net receivers Family main provider Country differences: state, family, market, charity Next 20 yrs: Faster increase in potential providers than potential recipients Informal Support Dependent on Health Living arrangements and family structures Partner, number and sex of children Family disruptions -> changed family solidarity Employment: Time conflicts, work vs. informal support Welfare state: Services for children and elderly, cash-for-care, care leave, legal obligations Technology: Integration vs. independence 5

6 Future Challenges Basic Challenge: Dependency Ratio Increases Basic challenge Allocation of scarce ressources (e.g. health, pension, social services) Decreasing dependency / increasing (informal) support Related challenges 1. Tight public budgets 2. Social inequality 3. Changing family structures & WFS 6

7 1. Tight Public Budget Increasing dependency ratio: more public spending, decreasing tax revenues 1. Increasing tax base Increasing Labour Force Participation Older workers, women, retirement age Time conflicts: Paid work vs. informal support / volunteering 1. Tight Public Budget 2. Cut spending Privatisation of life cycle risks Greater targeting of services and support Informal over formal support Home over institutional care Social inequality, dependency on family / informal support 7

8 2. Social Inequality Financial: Disruptions in working careers increases poverty Health: prevention and premium medicine Informal support: Different levels of choice and independence from family poverty trap Shifting responsibility to individuals/families increases dependencies / inequality in old age 3. Living Arrangements, Family Structure and WFS Changing family structures More couples, more elderly with living children More family disruptions and reconstitutions Changing family structures change family solidarity Family disruptions decrease family support Family reconstitutions enlarge family network, but support tends to be lower (step kin) 8

9 3. Living Arrangements, Family Structure and WFS Changing family structures challenge welfare states Family / care policy based on nuclear family Mismatch between heterogeneous family forms and policies Policy Implications 9

10 Mixed Responsibility and Choice 1. More flexibility in social security/insurances (family vs. mixed vs. state responsibility model) 2. Redefiniton of family: More flexibility and autonomy to define family (support contracts) 3. Flexible access to services and state support: shifting eligibility 4. New flexible work models: e.g. long term flexibility, space, tele jobs, part-time retirement Greater Targeting and Support of Community Life Redesign of support /social security systems tackling social inequality rather than status containment targeting to the poor rather than the needy State support of community life Shared elderly or mixed generations housing with professional and technological support: living independently at lower costs 10

11 Thank you for your attention 11