


Home \| Elder Rights \| Health \| Pension Watch \| Rural Aging \| Links \| Gallery \| Resources

	SEARCH	SUBSCRIBE
			Mission \| Contact Us \| Internships \| Donate Now!

Want to support Global Action on Aging?

Click below:

Thanks!

Supporting Intergenerational Relationships: Implications for Policy Development

By Robert Huber, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN

June 5, 2003

The combined effects of a rapid rate of ageing and a decline in birth-rates are resulting in fundamental changes in many societies. Changing expectations are also having profound impacts. Many older people are rejecting stereotypes of old age and pursuing more active lives, with greater recognition of their continued important contributions to their families and communities. Many younger people are seeking greater responsibility for the important choices and decision on life issues they confront. Family and community networks, which are so important for providing informal care for their members, are facing increasing strain, as family ties evolve and economic requirements or incentives lead to growing numbers of women – the traditional caregivers in most societies – moving into the workforce. The ability of Governments to respond to changing needs and to provide services in the face of rising costs is threatened.

Given all of these developments, it is vital to overcome prevailing but inaccurate stereotypes of the generations and to avoid scapegoating young people, older persons, the poor or other groups. Policies and programmes should not set one generation against another in a zero-sum trade-off game, but begin to find common ground among the generations. By this I mean that policies should meet the needs of all generations and resources should be used to connect generations rather than separate them.

The Generational Issues and Integration section seeks to combine a traditional “advocacy-based” support for social groups with a new “intergenerational” perspective that promotes communication and common agendas. While we maintain our youth and ageing programmes, we intend to extend the linkages between them and to consider larger social contexts – particularly the family – in which they operate. The notion of a “society for all”, which is how the Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development described social integration, means that societies should embrace all their members and seek equity for all persons and groups.

The aim is not to make people “fit into society”, but to make society more flexible and tolerant, allowing the participation of all its people. Following this theme, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing set as its ultimate goal the achievement of a “society for all ages”, and intergenerational issues have been identified as a major new area of concern for the youth programme.

Essential components of an intergenerational approach are the need for disaggregated information and statistics, and the goal to mainstream social group perspectives, issues and needs into overall policy making. More specific and accurate data on the situation of youth and older persons, particularly with regard to poverty, would help to ensure that policy makers are not blind to the circumstances of these groups. Disaggregated information could provide better understanding about how youth and older persons experience poverty, and whether that experience is different from that of other groups and from what policy makers assume.

Without understanding the particular experiences of specific groups or communities, it is unlikely that appropriate policies or programmes can be developed and implemented. A focus on the intergenerational nature of policies also provides a “side door” to mainstreaming, as it increases recognition that all polices affect all generations. Young and older persons are not merely concerned with and affected by policies and programmes that are directed to them, but with all policies. Transportation policy provides a good example. Policies that support automobiles instead of mass transit fundamentally impact the mobility of both young and older persons, and yet they are rarely seen in this light. Mainstreaming the experiences and needs of young and older persons in transportation policy could make a fundamental difference in how resources are distributed.

The interdependence and reciprocity of generations is also reflected in the notion of the “common good” which underlies much of social policy and the provision of social services. This notion recognizes that the “payoffs” from resource allocations are both direct and indirect. Investments in education, health care and social welfare services benefit not just the immediate recipients, but also the entire society which, as a result, is more engaged, competitive and healthier. As competition becomes global, education and life-long learning become ever more important. Today’s work force must be more capable and productive, able to respond to changing conditions and flexible to new demands and opportunities.

A more productive work force is better able to support those who are dependent. Pensions illustrate that payoffs are not merely direct but have compounding benefits: a sound pension programme benefits not just pensioners but all of society, as it enables parents to focus resources on their children, knowing that their own parents’ retirements are secure.

An intergenerational approach to policies and programmes should promote an essential interdependence among generations, and recognize that all members of society have contributions to make and needs to fulfil. While the nature of the contributions and needs may change over the life course, the giving and receiving of resources over time is crucial to promoting intergenerational trust, economic and social stability, and progress.

The means by which resources are transferred are also important, whether they be formal mechanisms provided by the State or informal networks of kinship or community. The continued ability of these mechanisms and networks to collect and allocate resources effectively and equitably builds confidence, trust and social capital that are fundamental to social integration.

This is just a short introduction to a major new area of interest for the Social Integration Branch: intergenerational approaches to policies and programmes. We look forward to continued and expanded discussions on concepts, approaches and recommendations.

Thank you.