EUROPEAN PAPERS ON THE NEW WELFARE

Introduction
Population ageing remains a long-term common challenge for all European countries, although its magnitude, speed and timing vary across European countries (Lanzieri 2011). The potential implications on the size and shape of public services and finances as well as on the future growth and on living standards are considerable (Economic Policy Committee 2009a; 2009b). A change is therefore called for in public policies and institutions as well as in individual behaviours towards extending working lives and also to contribute to society through other unpaid non-market activities (for example through volunteering and family care) during old age. Read More

1. Introduction

The article starts from the dichotomy that currently characterises the scientific and political debate on ageing. Two opposing, or rather mirrored theses mark the discussion on the “elderly question”.

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Abstract

With the ageing of society, pension reforms loom over the policy agenda of industrial countries. A core element of most pension reform packages is the increase of the pension age. Both policy makers and enterprises are, thus, aware that lifelong learning and the need to retain older workers in employment takes on ever more importance.
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1. Introduction

Europe is ageing and the european workforce is ageing too. Between 1950 and 2000 the percentage of people over 65 years of age in the EU25 increased from 9.1% to 15.7%. By 2025 this group will represent 22.7% of the entire population. Between 2010 and 2030 in the EU25 the EC expects a drop in the number of (Source: Demographic Green Paper of the EC of 2005):
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1. Introduction. On the Variety of Old Ages and the Lopsided Vision of the Policies

This paper is intended to contribute to the current general reflections on active ageing and in particular to the aspect concerning employment.
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Cristina Giudici: University “La Sapienza”, Rome.

1. Introduction

In the context of the European debate on ageing, a central question is the evolution of health status of population and in particular the trade-off between quantity and quality of life: is the increase of the individual length of life accompanied by an increase in the quality of life? And what do we mean by ‘quality’ of years lived?
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Abstract

This paper considers the active ageing strategy as the EU policy response to the challenges posed by population and work force ageing. Active ageing is a new supranational policy design started in 1999 that seeks to achieve greater correspondence between and, possibly, harmonization of the member states public policies towards older workers at EU level. In the framework of this new policy design, the EU has set itself two important targets to be met by 2010: first to increase the employment rate of older workers to 50% (Stockholm target-2001) and second, to delay by five years the age at which older workers stop working (Barcelona target-2002). So far the progress towards meeting the Stockholm and Barcelona targets is mixed and without determination both at EU level and especially by the Member States these objectives will be out of reach by 2010. The modest result produced so far by these policies reveal the weakness of the current policy approach at national and EU level.
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Abstract
In view of the ongoing ageing and coming shrinking of their working-age population, the Member States of the European Union have agreed bold goals for increasing the employment rate and the exit age of older workers. Progress so far has been modest and with enlargement the challenge has become bigger. EU policies however lend constructive support and Member States are stepping up their efforts to institute better regimes of age management. As policy measures begin to kick in they are likely to be helped by an upward shift in the skill level of older workers and growing labour scarcity. Though it may be difficult to fully meet the targets of a 50% employment rate and a 5-year delay in the exit age by 2010, the relative role of older workers in the European workforce is likely to be substantially strengthened over the next 5-10 years.
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