Intergenerational solidarity

Population ageing is often viewed as an impending threat to the economic and social stability of post-industrial societies. Forecasters expect people aged 65 and over to make up 30% of the European Union population by 2060 - almost double today's figure of 17%. At the same time, the working age population (aged 15-64 years) peaked in 2010 at 67% and is predicted to decline steadily to 59% by 2060. The upshot of the demographic shift is that social protection systems may become unsustainable as the demands upon them intensify while the number of net contributors declines.