AGING POLICIES GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: TOWARD A NEW HORIZON

This symposium will discuss aging policies for the 21 st century which we will argue need to strive toward a new horizon for at least three reasons: (i) the global nature of demographic change, (ii) the systemic nature of demographic change and its impact on society, and (iii) the potential synergy of increasing sustainability and responding to demographic change. (1) The whole world is aging now. The world-average life expectancy has changed from 47 in 1900 to 70 in 2015, and 79 years by 2060. The global nature has repercussions for national policies in as much as economies have turned global quite some time ago. What are the implications? (2) Aging policies traditionally have been discussed in three major policy areas: health/disability/long-term care, pensions, human rights. We will ask whether there is more when it comes to aging in the 21 st century? (3) Besides, global demographic change, there is another major challenge for our planet and that is, climate change and finite resources. We will ask whether and if so how demographic change and questions of sustainability may go hand in hand? Jack Rowe will present the results of a NAS task force that investigated some of these questions for the United States. Ruth Finkelstein will focus on her conception of new aging policies that emphasize the importance of built environment, infrastructure, and neighborhood. Maurizio Bussolo will discuss the recent World Bank report on Aging in Europe. Finally, Angelique Chan presents perspectives from Asia. Finally, Sarah Harper will serve as discussant.