A report examined the consequences for the European Union of global social trends. It identified relevant trends that included: a new global middle class; population growth and ageing; employment and the labour market; and migration. It said many trends were uncertain and would be influenced by external factors. It outlined how the analysis could inform the ongoing work of the European Union.
Source: Stijn Hoorens, Jeremy Ghez, Benoit Guerin, Daniel Schweppenstedde, Tess Hellgren, Veronika Horvath, Marlon Graf, Barbara Janta, Sam Drabble, and Svitlana Kobzar, Europe s Societal Challenges: An analysis of global societal trends to 2030 and their impact on the EU, RAND Corporation
Links: Report | Summary | Rand press release
Date: 2013-Dec
An article examined legal and conceptual issues in relation to age discrimination. It said that there was a need for the rights of elderly people to be recognized through the adoption of a specific international convention. In Europe, the application of the revised European Social Charter might promote a progressive concept of age discrimination: although there were some concerns over the application of the European Union Framework Directive, a clarification of its concepts and application might be expected in due course from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
Source: Csilla Kollonay Lehoczky, 'Who, whom, when, how? Questions and emerging answers on age discrimination', Equal Rights Review, Volume 11
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Sep
A report said that European governments seeking higher levels of participation by older workers should focus on improving the skills of the older workforce, supporting more older women in work, and improving health.
Source: David Sinclair, Jessica Watson and Brian Beach, Working Longer: An EU perspective, International Longevity Centre – UK
Links: Report | ILC press release
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined a 'growing consensus' in European human rights law that states were subject to special obligations to take action to vindicate the rights of older people and to address their specific needs and requirements.
Source: Colm O Cinneide, 'The growing importance of age equality', Equal Rights Review, Volume 11
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the evidence for inter-generational conflict in developed (OECD) countries. Little support was found in general: but people who were close to statutory retirement age disliked public expenditure on families and education.
Source: Tim Krieger and Jens Ruhose, 'Honey, I shrunk the kids benefits – revisiting intergenerational conflict in OECD countries', Public Choice, Volume 157 Issue 1-2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined whether people in Europe were more likely to be pulled toward retirement by their expectations about life after retirement than they were to be pushed out of the labour market due to poor health or dislike of their job. At the individual level, it was found that older workers were pushed out due to health problems as well as being attracted towards retirement to spend time with their grandchildren. At the institutional level, financial incentives such as a high implicit tax on continued work and high expenditures on early exit schemes made retirement attractive, whereas the institutional push context was of lesser importance.
Source: Hanne De Preter, Dorien Van Looy, and Dimitri Mortelmans, 'Individual and institutional push and pull factors as predictors of retirement timing in Europe: a multilevel analysis', Journal of Aging Studies, Volume 27 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the conditions under which older people in European countries benefited more from having family resources. It said that the presence of intimate family ties (with partner and children) was an important resource for achieving psychological well-being. Partner resources were more important for the life satisfaction of older people with a low education and health problems. Similarly, having children only improved the life satisfaction of lower-educated older adults. However, family resources were not more important for older people with fewer material resources or for older people living in countries with low services levels targeted at older adults.
Source: Nienke Moor, Paul de Graaf, and Aafke Komter, 'Family, welfare state generosity and the vulnerability of older adults: a cross-national study', Journal of Aging Studies, Volume 27 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the financial well-being of elderly people in Europe, and the redistributive effects of minimum pension schemes. Such schemes were effective in tackling poverty, but not in ensuring that older people enjoyed financial well-being in line with the general population.
Source: Francesco Figari, Manos Matsaganis, and Holly Sutherland, 'The financial well-being of elderly people in Europe and the redistributive effects of minimum pension schemes', Rivista Italiana degli Economisti, Volume 18 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
An article examined European Court of Justice case law in the field of elder rights. On average, only 1-2 per cent of ECJ cases each year addressed the rights of older persons. However, in most of those that did, the ECJ decision was in support of the older person's rights.
Source: Israel Doron, 'Older Europeans and the European Court of Justice', Age and Ageing, Volume 42 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
A think-tank report identified a series of disincentives and barriers that continued to prevent better labour market integration for an ageing workforce in European countries. It presented a series of concrete policy measures designed to create better opportunities for older workers.
Source: Laura Naegele, Eric Thode, and Claire Dheret, Second Career Labour Markets: Assessing challenges – advancing policies, Bertelsmann Foundation/European Policy Centre
Links: Report | Bertelsmann Foundation press release
Date: 2013-Jun
An article described a European project to develop a way of analyzing long-term care and its links with the health and social care systems, and with formal and informal care.
Source: Jenny Billings, 'The INTERLINKS framework for long-term care of older people in Europe', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 21 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined the levels of job satisfaction reported by older workers (aged 50-64), with and without disability, using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Overall job satisfaction reported by disabled workers was significantly affected by levels of satisfaction with the recognition of the work, support in difficult situations, and physical effort.
Source: Ricardo Pagan, 'Job satisfaction and domains of job satisfaction for older workers with disabilities in Europe', Journal of Happiness Studies, Volume 14 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined the development of age discrimination law in the European Court of Justice. There was a marked difference in the level of discretion given to member states in cases relating to mandatory retirement policies. Such policies might no longer be compatible with European Union law, and there was a need to move towards more flexible retirement policies.
Source: Elaine Dewhurst, 'The development of EU case-law on age discrimination in employment: "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I'm sixty-four"', European Law Journal, Volume 19 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
A report said that women in Europe received pensions that were 39 per cent lower on average than those of men. It developed a new indicator for gender equality, the 'gender pension gap': together with the 'gender pay gap', this would help to assess the magnitude of gender inequality in the course of people's lives.
Source: Francesca Bettio, Platon Tinios, and Gianni Betti (with Francesca Gagliardi and Thomas Georgiadis), The Gender Gap in Pensions in the EU, European Commission
Links: Report | EWL press release
Date: 2013-Jun
A paper examined the prospects for harmonizing retirement pensions systems in the European Union.
Source: Florence Legros, The Future of Retirement Pensions in the European Union, Robert Schuman Foundation
Date: 2013-Jun
A study examined European initiatives at national and sectoral level, taken by governments and social partners, designed to keep older workers in the labour market. Some measures involved financial incentives to work longer, and others looked at ways to enhance working conditions. The report highlighted the importance of the social partners and social dialogue, both in the implementation of measures aimed at extending working life and in awareness-raising among employers and employees.
Source: Toms Feifs, Claire Duchemin, and Tina Weber, Role of Governments and Social Partners in Keeping Older Workers in the Labour Market, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Links: Report
Date: 2013-May
An article said that work factors had a greater impact on European women's retirement timing than they did for men; and that both men's and women's retirement timing was influenced by the interplay of work and life.
Source: Hanne De Preter, Dorien Van Looy, Dimitri Mortelmans, and Kim Denaeghel, 'Retirement timing in Europe: the influence of individual work and life factors', The Social Science Journal, Volume 50 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
A paper examined the determinants of planned retirement from work in European countries – including personal as well as work-related characteristics, and some characteristics of national pension systems. The interaction between planned retirement age and personal and work-related variables was not identical across Europe. Sex as well as country type needed to be taken into consideration. There was tentative evidence that European Union states were at different phases of the transition from physically demanding to intellectually demanding work environments, which related to earlier planned retirement where working was physically more demanding.
Source: Monika Riedel and Helmut Hofer (with Birgit Woegerbauer), Determinants of the Transition from Work into Retirement, Working Paper 17.1, NEUJOBS Research Project (European Commission)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-May
A think-tank report examined how well developed (OECD) countries lived up to the principles of inter-generational justice. It considered how clearly such principles could be measured, and how cross-national comparisons could help foster more strategic policy-making.
Source: Pieter Vanhuysse, Intergenerational Justice in Aging Societies: A cross-national comparison of 29 OECD countries, Bertelsmann Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report by an official advisory body examined the likely impact of proposals by the European Commission on the solvency of occupational pension schemes. It estimated that defined-benefit (DB) schemes in the United Kingdom might need an extra £450 billion of funds in order to meet the proposed new requirements.
Source: QIS on IORPs: Preliminary results for the European Commission, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
Links: Report | DWP press release | NAPF press release | TUC blog post | Professional Pensions report
Date: 2013-Apr
A study provided an overview of the employment situation of young and old workers in European Union member states, and policies implemented to promote the employment of both groups. The evidence showed that there was no competition between young and older workers in the labour market. Structural or general policies to enhance the functioning of EU labour markets were crucial to improving the situation of both groups.
Source: Werner Eichhorst, Tito Boeri, Michela Braga, An De Coen, Vicenzo Galasso, Maarten Gerard, Michael Kendzia, Christine Mayrhuber, Jakob Louis Pedersen, Ricarda Schmidl, and Nadia Steiber, Combining the Entry of Young People in the Labour Market with the Retention of Older Workers, European Parliament
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report examined initiatives in Europe at national or sectoral level taken by governments and social partners to keep older workers in the labour market. Some measures involved financial incentives to work longer, whereas others looked at ways to enhance working conditions.
Source: Role of Governments and Social Partners in Keeping Older Workers in the Labour Market, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Date: 2013-Apr
An article examined whether it was worthwhile for some people to participate in pension schemes that were not mandatory – particularly those with low incomes and/or potentially broken careers – based on a study of schemes in the United Kingdom and Germany. The small pensions that they accumulated in such schemes merely offset entitlements to means-tested pension benefits, leaving them no better off in old age.
Source: Bernard Casey and Jorg Michael Dostal, 'Voluntary pension saving for old age: are the objectives of self-responsibility and security compatible?', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 47 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Apr
An article said that an active ageing strategy could provide a basis for European countries to respond to the challenges presented by an ageing population. But this strategy needed to reflect the need for a partnership between citizens and society, and be comprehensive, non-coercive, and inclusive in its approach. In particular, it needed to acknowledge the gendered nature of ageing and previous life course events, and to emphasize well-being rather than just the production of resources and services.
Source: Liam Foster and Alan Walker, 'Gender and active ageing in Europe', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined asset-based approaches for promoting active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in European countries.
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
A paper examined transitions out of work for 26 European Union countries over the period 2004 2009 in order to identify the determinants of retirement. Income, together with flexible working arrangements, was found to be important as regards early retirement decisions, compared with retiring beyond the legal retirement age. Institutional measures (such as state/health benefits and minimum retirement age) could not be sufficient by themselves if individuals withdrew earlier from the labour market due to a weakening of their health.
Source: Ted Aranki and Corrado Macchiarelli, Employment Duration and Shifts into Retirement in the EU, LEQS Paper 58/2013, London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined the idea of possible conflicts between generations in the context of pension systems, based on experiences in Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain. In order to form interest groups that could engage in such a conflict, the generations in question would have to form clear collectives with strong agendas: but the concept of generation was rather vague, and it was not possible to define a generational collective characterized by its experiences of, and attitudes towards, the welfare state or the pension system. There was also no evidence to be found for specific generations perceiving themselves as winners or losers, or showing an outspoken conflict potential that would mark them as actors in generational disputes.
Source: Christina May, 'Generation in itself or for itself? The conflict potential of cohorts in the German, Dutch and British pension systems compared', European Societies, Volume 15 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
A paper examined transitions out of work for 26 European Union countries over the period 2004–2009 in order to investigate the determinants of retirement.
Source: Ted Aranki and Corrado Macchiarelli, Employment Duration and Shifts into Retirement in the EU, Working Paper 1517, European Central Bank
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined volunteering by older people across Europe and the evidence for its benefits for health and well-being
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
A report set out a series of policy recommendations aimed at achieving the many potential benefits from active ageing in European workplaces.
Source: Laura Naegele, Eric Thode, and Claire Deret, Creating Second Career Labour Markets: Towards more employment opportunities for older workers, European Policy Centre (Brussels)/Bertelsmann Stiftung
Links: Report | European Commission press release
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined the financial consequences for older people in Europe of private 'out-of-pocket' expenditure necessary to obtain healthcare and long-term care. Such expenditure was very common, and could have a significant impact on disposable income.
Source: Xenia Scheil-Adlung and Jacopo Bonan, 'Gaps in social protection for health care and long-term care in Europe: are the elderly faced with financial ruin?', International Social Security Review, Volume 66 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined ageing and pension provision in the European Union. It looked at how an active ageing framework could be utilized to improve the pension situation of older people. This included the use of a more comprehensive approach to active ageing that encompassed a life-course perspective. This framework should emphasize the potential benefits older people presented for society, and their well-being.
Source: Liam Foster, 'Active ageing and pensions in the European Union', Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, Volume 28 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined gender inequalities in old age in Europe. It considered measures implemented in the main policy areas of active ageing (employment; training and life-long learning; volunteer/community work; age-friendly environment; and supportive services) in order to identify effective strategies from a gender equality perspective.
Source: Marcella Corsi and Manuela Samek Lodovici, Active Ageing and Gender Equality, Working Paper 13/004, Centre Emile Bernheim (Brussels)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book examined later-life poverty across the 25 member states of the European Union. It analyzed the poverty risks faced by older people, and discussed how such risks ought to be measured.
Source: Asghar Zaidi (ed.), Poverty among Older People and Pensions Policy in the EU, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book examined the adoption of 'active ageing' policies by European Union nations, and the impact on older people's work and retirement policy options.
Source: Kate Hamblin, Active Ageing in the European Union: Policy convergence and divergence, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan
A briefing paper presented the main results and policy implications of a research project that considered the future of long-term care for elderly people in Europe. It explored how need, demand, supply, and use of long-term care would develop, and how different systems of care performed.
Source: Esther Mot and Peter Willeme, Assessing Needs of Care in European Nations, Policy Brief 14, European Network of Economic Policy Research Institutes
Links: Brief
Date: 2013-Jan
A special issue of a journal examined issues affecting the future of work and retirement in the United Kingdom and Europe, including developments in the policy arena, factors influencing career decisions in middle and late life, and changing transitions from work to retirement.
Source: Human Relations, Volume 66 Number 1
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2013-Jan
