Aging and Social Policy
Trends in Aging Social Policy
The Rise of the Contenders
The number of citizens above the age of 65 has expanded dramatically over the past 100 years. In 1900, the average life expectancy was just 47.3 years, but a child born in 2008 can expect to live another 30.8 years on average. From an economic perspective, the seniors alive 100 years ago were largely dependent on others for their survival and this realization triggered policy changes that provided many advantages, including a security net for retirees.
After World War II, the economy became robust enough that the aged began to experience a longer life expectancy and greater economic wealth. This resulted in the emergence of a politically powerful demographic that could begin to influence public policy on its own. This process has been viewed as cyclical, in that public policies strengthened a specific demographic and the demographic in turn protected and strengthened the public policies that provided them with advantages. At the beginning of the 21st century though, the economic realities facing the United States has again forced the aged to compete with younger citizens for a piece of the economic pie. For this reason, the aged of the 21st century are being called contenders.
Contending
During the past 100 years the aged have transitioned from disadvantaged to advantaged, and most recently to contenders. The contender status implies that the aged are in direct economic competition with other demographics for limited resources. This turn of events suggests that the privileged status the aged once enjoyed is being moderated by the right of children and younger citizens to take part in the American dream.
The theory that aged Americans have transitioned through advantaged status to contender is supported by the fact that as a voting bloc they have had the highest rates of participation since 1988. However,...
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