Can we reform the welfare in times of grey majorities? The myth of an electoral opposition between younger and older voters in Germany
Is there an antagonism between young and old in the electoral arena that could lead to the obstruction of welfare-state reforms? This article argues that this notion is a myth and lacks empirical evidence for the case of Germany. It is true that (a) there are imminent majorities of voters aged 50 and older; (b) older voters benefit from many welfare state programs and (c) life-cycle interests shape some attitudes towards single public policies. However, these facts alone do not represent an antagonism between young and old in the electoral arena. Firstly, differences in party preferences between age groups are due to generational effects associated with early political socialization. Secondly, life-cycle interests do not shape the German party competition because age is not a political division line (cleavage). Young age/old age is only a transitional boundary that all of us aspire to cross, meaning that material old-age interests are important to everyone. Finally, grey interests parties are notoriously weak and try to become parties for the interests of all age groups.
Year of publication: |
2007
|
---|---|
Authors: | Goerres, Achim |
Publisher: |
Cologne : Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies |
Saved in:
freely available
Series: | MPIfG Working Paper ; 07/5 |
---|---|
Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | 558908500 [GVK] hdl:10419/41679 [Handle] RePEc:zbw:mpifgw:075 [RePEc] |
Source: |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10010302807
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
Goerres, Achim, (2012)
-
Goerres, Achim, (2012)
-
Busemeyer, Marius R., (2008)
- More ...