Ageing and social policies in times of crisis

Abstract

The ageing of the populations at the top of the age structure is a result of the relationship between social policies and longevity, and is posing new challenges to the sustainability of health and pension systems. The response to these challenges has been taking the shape of austerity policies that are not sparing the elderly. This backwards step in the quality of social policies has been degrading people's living conditions and harming their rights, without resolving the problem of how to finance the state. An alternative may entail reforms that see the state as an investment and a factor for growth and well-being.