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!