Policies to Enhance Active Ageing in Germany

Presentation at the International Workshop „Well-being in Ageing Societies:
Perspectives from China, Germany and Japan“23 – 25 October 2013, BeijingFrank BernerAs an introduction: Active Ageing Index

4 domains, each with several indicators:(1) Employment of older people(2) Older people‘s participation in society
Active Ageing Index(3) Independent, healthy and secure living(4) Capacity and enabling environment for active ageing

Developed by: UNECE, European Commission and European Centre for Social Welfare Policy, 2012

Active Ageing Index: Ranking051015202530

35

4045

Sweden44

Denmark

40.2

Ireland39.4

United Kingdom

39.2

Netherlands

38.9

Finland38.8

Cyprus36.3

Luxembourg

35.1

Germany

35
The basic idea: policy matters!

Austria

34.9

Czech Republik

34.3

France34.2

Portugal

34.2

Belgium

33.5

Italy

33.3

Estonia
Spain
Lithuania
Malta
Romania

33.1
Employment and social participation
32.5
31.6 aspects(volunteer work) are important31
of active ageing 30.9

Slovenia

30.6

Latvia30.2

Bulgaria

30

GreeceHungary

29.3
28.2

Slovakia

27.7

Poland27.3

50

What is the presentation about?

Investigate the role of policy in two domains of active ageing(the German case)

Employment of older people
and transition into retirement

Volunteer workPolicies

Policies

Empirical trends

Empirical trends

Policies on employment of older people andon transition into retirement
Paradigmatic change in the 1990ies: From early retirement to longer working lives

Some landmarks:
1973:
Introduction offlexible
retirement age
from 63

1984:
Introductionof statesubsidiesfor early
retirementfrom age 58

1986:
extended
unemployment
benefit forolderworkers

1992:
decision toraise
standard
pensionage to 65;
deductions
for retirement
before 65

Since
1996:
severalacts toraise thestandard
pensionage ofvarious
pensiontypes

Since 2006:
severalinitiatives toraise labour
marketparticipationof olderworkers

2007:
decision toraise thestandard
pensionage from
65 to 67

Change in pension policy
Change in labour market policy

1970ies

1980ies

1990iesnoughties

Empirical trend: Employment rate of older workers is rising
Persons in employment as a percentage of the population of the respective age group.

100

Percentage

8060
40

89868360776680

736867524920373101991

2001

2011

50-54 years

19912001

2011

55-59 years

MenData Source: Federal Statistical Office, Microcensus

Women362910141991

2001

2011

60-64 years

Empirical trend: Retirement age is rising
Average age of retirement (of the persons drawing old age pensions).

Data Source: German Statutory Pension InsuranceEmpirical trend: Planned retirement age is rising
Persons in each answer category to the question “At what age do you plan to stop working?”
as a percentage of the population of the age group 40-49.

10015173080

75Percentage

2360

1020181937

32

10564020125245297705347

2002
Women2008

34019962002
Men2008

Don't know yet
In the age of 65 years or later
Between 61 and 64 years
In the age of 60 years or earlier

Data Source: German Ageing Survey

1996

Policies on volunteer work
Since the end of the 1990ies:
Development of a distinct policy field „Enhancement of volunteer work“• Volunteer work is more and more prominent on the political agenda• Responsibilities and tasks have been assigned to political actors• Increasing volunteer work has been established as an overall policy goal
• Interventions and instruments to promote volunteer work have beendevelopped: reports, campaigns, initiatives, programmes• several programmes have been launched to promote volunteer work ofolder peopleOther policies with an effect volunteer work

In addition, and maybe even more important, there are certainly effects of- health policy:

The cohorts that have moved up into old age in the last 15-20
years are healthier than previous cohorts.

- educational policy: The cohorts that have moved up into old age in the last 15-20years are better educated than previous cohorts.
- pension policy:

The cohorts that have moved up into old age in the last 15-20
have good pensions.

Factors that make volunteer work more likely

Empirical trend: Rates of older people doing volunteer work
are rising
Volunteers as a percentage of the population of the respective age group.

50

Percentage

40
30
20

44

44
37

43
38

39

42

39

35

40
33

28

10

32

30

26
17

1919992004

2301999

2004

2009

40-54 years

19992004

2009

55-69 years

MenData Source: German Survey on VolunteeringWomen2009

70-85 years

Empirical trend: Older people‘s potential for volunteer work isrising
Persons who answered with “yes” to the question “Are you interested to take up volunteer
work today or in the future?” as a percentage of the population of the respective age group.

20

Percentage

15105910 1112 13 117911 111282019992004

2009

40-54 years

1999

2004

2009

55-69 years

MenData Source: German Survey on Volunteering

Women

3

1999

23200434

2009

70-85 years

Discussion(1) The effect of policy is more obvious regarding the employment rates
and the retirement age of older people than regarding the volunteeringof older people.
(2) It seems that policies in several policy fields have to concur and haveto go hand in hand to have an effect.
(3) Future interaction between domains of active ageing? E.g.:- will rising employment rates and rising pension age be obstructive or
supportive to volunteer work?
- will lower pensions be obstructive to volunteer work or will morepoverty in old age generate more volunteer work?

Thank youVolunteer work and satisfaction with life

Life satisfaction (mean values)

Mean values of life satisfaction of those who volunteer and those who don’t volunteer, in the respective
age group.

5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0

3.6 3.8

3.7 3.9

3.8 4.1

40-54 y. 55-69 y. 70-85 y.
Men
No volunteer work
Data Source: German Ageing Survey

3.7 3.9

3.8 4.0

3.8 4.040-54 y. 55-69 y. 70-85 y.
Women
Volunteer workEmpirical trend: More people work during retirement
Persons in employment as a percentage of the population of the respective age group.
50
45
6.8

40
Percentage

35

5.7

30
25
20
5.1

3.5

15
10
15.1

37.5
31.3

18.0
11.0

5

13.9

7.2

5.10
1996

2002

2008

2011

1996

2002

60-64

2008

2011

65-69
Employed, pre-retired

Data Source: German Ageing Survey

Employed, post-retired

2.6

3.2

3.7

4.5

1996

2002

2008

2011

70-85

Status just before retirement

Policies on volunteer work
Since the end of the 1990ies:
Development of a distinct policy field „Enhancement of volunteer work“
Some landmarks:
1999:
Appointment ofthecommiteeof enquiry„The
Future ofvolunteer
work“

1999:
First
GermanSurveyonVolunteering

2000

2002:
The Ministryof Family
Affairs,
SeniorCitizens,
Women &Youth isappointed tobe theresponsible
ministry forvolunteer
work

2002:
Foundation oftheNational
Networkfor Civil
Society

2003:
Introductionof a parliamentarycommission
on volunteer work

2005

2007:
The
Ministry
appoints acommissioner onvolunteer
work

2009:
A national
strategy
toenhance
volunteerwork isdevelopped

2010

2011:
EuropeanYear ofvolunteering

2012:
The firstNational
Report onVolunteer
Work ispublished