Aging In Comparative Perspective Processes And Policies2011

"People are living longer--in particular, the over-85 population is increasing in many countries around the globe. But while this fact should be considered a proud testament to improved standards of living, it is often lost in contentious debates over the state of health care and the future of benefit programs. Aging in Comparative Perspective explores this complex scenario on a world scale, as the global recession drives political change and shifts in cultural traditions. This timely volume analyzes the aging process in various countries, with special focus on the stresses placed on their economies as the numbers of elders increase with fewer young people available to support them due to declining birthrates. The authors review elder policies, such as entitlement programs, that have been...