Population Challenges and Policy Responses Ms. Ursula Haubner, Secretary of State Federal Ministry...

PPopulation opulation CChallenges and hallenges and PPolicy olicy RResponsesesponses

MMs. Ursula Haubners. Ursula Haubner, , Secretary of Secretary of SStatetate Federal Ministry for Federal Ministry for SSocial ocial SSecurity, ecurity, GGenerations and enerations and C Consumer onsumer PProtectionrotection

Geneva, January 12, 2004

European European PPopulation opulation FForum 2004orum 2004

Dimensions of global ageingDimensions of global ageing

• average life expectancy at birth (worldwide):average life expectancy at birth (worldwide):

1950: 46 years1950: 46 years

2003: 66 years2003: 66 years

2050: 76 years2050: 76 years

• number of people 60+ years of age:number of people 60+ years of age:

2000: 600 million2000: 600 million

2050: 2 billion2050: 2 billion

• rapid and intense growth in developing countriesrapid and intense growth in developing countries

DimensionsDimensions of population of population development in ECE regiondevelopment in ECE region

• concentration of concentration of populationpopulation growth in Western growth in Western and Central Asian countriesand Central Asian countries

• fewer children and more older people in most fewer children and more older people in most European States European States

• rapid and intense growth in developing rapid and intense growth in developing countriescountries

Challenges for the economyChallenges for the economyand the labour marketand the labour market

• predictedpredicted shortage on employees shortage on employees

• policies policies needneed to mobilize reserves, e.g. women to mobilize reserves, e.g. women and older peopleand older people

• innovative approaches are in demand innovative approaches are in demand (examples from Scandinavian countries + (examples from Scandinavian countries + Switzerland)Switzerland)

Challenges for Challenges for incomeincome equity equity

• necessity of secure old age pensionsnecessity of secure old age pensions

• example: pension example: pension reformsreforms in Austria in Austria

- - incentives for older people to work longer - - incentives for older people to work longer

- - new severance pay scheme- - new severance pay scheme

- - attractive retirement income provision - - attractive retirement income provision schemescheme

ChallengesChallenges regarding women‘s regarding women‘s situationsituation• indirect claims of pensions indirect claims of pensions acute risk of acute risk of

povertypoverty

• Austria‘s pension reform 2003:Austria‘s pension reform 2003:

-- increase from 18 to 24 months of pension -- increase from 18 to 24 months of pension eligibilityeligibility

-- 4 years of child care qualify for pension-- 4 years of child care qualify for pension

-- new severance pay scheme for short-term -- new severance pay scheme for short-term employmentemployment

-- possibility of low-cost pension insurance-- possibility of low-cost pension insurance

-- family hospice leave-- family hospice leave

• necessity of income equitynecessity of income equity

Challenges for Challenges for fightingfighting poverty poverty

defined goals:defined goals:

• improve life opportunitiesimprove life opportunities

• prevent social marginalisationprevent social marginalisation

• fight poverty among those who are most fight poverty among those who are most affected by marginalisationaffected by marginalisation

• include both affected and social initiativesinclude both affected and social initiatives

Challenges for Challenges for intergenerationalintergenerational solidaritysolidarity

• visibility of older people‘s contributions visibility of older people‘s contributions

(passive recipients (passive recipients active educational, care active educational, care work)work)

• example Austria:example Austria:

-- Citizens‘ Centers for Young and Old (voluntary -- Citizens‘ Centers for Young and Old (voluntary work)work)

-- senior-citizen managers-- senior-citizen managers

-- families as the fulcrum of solidarity-- families as the fulcrum of solidarity

-- Federal Senior Citizens Act-- Federal Senior Citizens Act

Importance and tools of family Importance and tools of family policypolicy

• family allowance („Familienbeihilfe“)family allowance („Familienbeihilfe“)

• tax credit for childrentax credit for children

• confinement benefit and temporary help confinement benefit and temporary help allowance for self employed women allowance for self employed women („Wochengeld“, „Betriebshilfe“)(„Wochengeld“, „Betriebshilfe“)

• child-care benefit („Kinderbetreuungsgeld“)child-care benefit („Kinderbetreuungsgeld“)

1. Key family benefits (Austria)1. Key family benefits (Austria)

Importance Importance andand tools of family policy tools of family policy

• child-care serviceschild-care services

• family-friendly work environment family-friendly work environment (parents‘ (parents‘ discretionary choice; family and work must not stand in each discretionary choice; family and work must not stand in each other‘s way; family and work audit; „other‘s way; family and work audit; „familyfamily skills“) skills“)

• evaluation by the OECD (child care benefit)evaluation by the OECD (child care benefit)

-- 78.399 births (rise by 3,6%)-- 78.399 births (rise by 3,6%)

-- birth rate 1,3% higher-- birth rate 1,3% higher

-- ¼ of beneficiaries go to work-- ¼ of beneficiaries go to work

2. Measures to 2. Measures to reconcilereconcile work + family work + family (Austria)(Austria)

ResuméResumé and Outlook and Outlook

• need of pronatalistic family policyneed of pronatalistic family policy

• establish a positive framework:establish a positive framework:

-- climate of child-friendliness-- climate of child-friendliness

-- compensation for parents-- compensation for parents

-- reconciliation of work and family-- reconciliation of work and family

-- fair opportunities for women-- fair opportunities for women

-- flexible child-care facilities-- flexible child-care facilities

• Migration?Migration?

• boost own strengths! boost own strengths!