Synopses & Reviews
This two-volume work presents social cohesion and demographic challenges that are associated with low birth rates and population ageing. It does so from the perspective of citizens and key policy actors. The work analyses peoples' attitudes about demographic trends and expectations towards private networks and public policies. It places these in the societal context of national specificities in the fourteen countries and regards them as part of the dynamics of the European integration process. Volume 2 focuses on research findings related to general knowledge of people concerning demographic developments, gender issues, and ageing. In addition, it presents the results of a Delphi-Study on the views of key policy actors in the area of demographic developments. The volume concludes with policy implications of the findings, and a reflected overview of all results collected in the two volumes of this work. This book is the outcome of the DIALOG research project, funded by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme.
Review
From the reviews: "This publication is a welcome exception to the rule that an international study yields one volume of comparative chapters and another devoted to analysis of the data of each participating country. ... The study was meant to provide the 'scientific basis for population-related policies'. ... the summary contain a great many novel and thought-provoking observations. ... people thinking about policies, or working and writing on Europe's population issues will, no doubt, find it useful to have these volumes at hand on their desk." (Dirk J. van de Kaa, European Journal of Population, Vol. 25, 2009)
Synopsis
European countries, including the DIALOG countries, have faced a major de- graphic change and transition in the last thirty years. They are experiencing lo- term downward trends in fertility, leading to demographic ageing. Fertility rates are now below replacement level in nearly all countries. As a result, natural p- ulation growth rates are starting to decline, or population sizes are falling o- right. At the same time, the proportion of elderly dependants continues to grow while the working-age population declines in absolute and relative terms (see Kontula and Miettinen 2005). Moreover, net immigration, which potentially could offset declines in working-age population, remains generally low in most European countries (Grant et al. 2004). There are a great number of societal problems that arise from this demographic transition. The International Monetary Fund (2004) argues that the impact of - coming demographic changes on economical growth could be substantial. The h- toric association between demographicand macro-economicvariablessuggests that the projected increase in elderly dependency ratios and the projected decline in the share of the working-age population could result in slower per capita GDP growth, and lower saving and investment (IMF 2004, 147). For example, the estimates s- gest that demographic change could reduce annual real per capita GDP growth in 1 1 advanced countries by an average of / % point by 2050, i. e., growth would be / % 2 2 point lower than if the demographic structure had remained the same as in 2000 (IMF 2004, 147).
Synopsis
This two-volume work explores social cohesion and the demographic challenges of low birth rates and population aging. The authors approach the topic from the perspective of citizens and key policy actors, analyzing attitudes from 14 European countries regarding the European integration process, demographic trends, and expectations towards private networks and public policies. Volume 2 focuses on demographic developments, gender issues, and aging.
Table of Contents
1. Demographic Trends, population related policies and general attitudes,- 1.1. Demographic change and family policy regimes Osmo Kontula / Ismo Soederling,- 1.2. Demographic knowledge and evaluation of demographic trends Jürgen Dorbritz,- 1.3. Who should take care for them? Expectations placed on the welfare state and its influence on attitudes towards care for the elderly Ralf Mai / Robert Naderi / Peter Schiman,- 2. Changing attitudes on population policies? A comparison between the first and second rounds of the PPAS Jürgen Dorbritz,- 3. Comparative Delphi-Study,- 3.1. 2030: Another Europe? Results from the policy-Delphi study Rossella Palomba / Pierre Dell'Anno,- 3.2. Action programs of socio-political actors. A cross-national comparision, taking account of contextual factors and opinion of the populace Alfred Bertschinger,- 3.3. Making dialogue possible: The view of Delphi panellists and citizens on female employment Adele Menneti / Maura Misiti,- 4. Gender roles,- 4.1. Family-related gender attitudes. The three dimensions: 'gender-role ideology' , 'consequences for the family' , and ' economic consuquences' Dimiter Philipov,- 4.4. Gender and Fertility - Attitudes towards gender roles and fertility behaviour Kerstin Ruckdeschel,- 5. International Solidarity and Elderly,- 5.1. Attitudes towards population ageing and older people Ronald Schoenmaeckers / Lieve Vanderleyden / Lucie Vidovicova / Marc Callens,- 5.2. Activating older workers: policies versus opinions and expectations Janina Jozwiak / Irena E. Kotowska / Anita Abramowska,- 5.3. Only fools rush in? On transition to retirement Beatrice Manea / Ladislac Rabusic / Lucie Vidovicova,- 6. Policy Implications and Conclusions,- 6.1. The Need to adapt and reform social policy: setting the stage for effective population-friendly policies Dragana Avramov / Robert Cliquet,- 6.2. Conclusions Charlotte Höhn,- Annex: PPAS-Questionnaire(s), CD-Rom