Redistributing Work in Aging Europe
James W. Vaupel and
Elke Loichinger
As Europe ages, the proportion of people who work will decline
unless older individuals remain in the labor force. Such reform
could be part of a more general redistribution of work. If a
greater share of the population worked, then the average number
of hours worked per week could be reduced. This could particularly
help younger people and increase Europe's low birth rates. The
challenges facing Germany, Europe's most populous country, are
highlighted, but statistics are also given for five other European
countries and, for comparison, the United States. Social science
research is needed to provide policy-relevant knowledge about
life-course options.
E-mail: jwv{at}demogr.mpg.de
