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Government faces ‘baby boom backlash’
Download full text of The New Old
The government is risking a ‘baby boomer backlash’ if it doesn’t deal with the demands of a generation who plan to grow older very differently from their parents, says a new report published by Demoswith Age Concern England.
The New Oldis the first detailed account of baby boomers’ attitudes to ageing, which are distinctively different from their parents. The character of this generation will have a much greater impact than the numbers alone suggest. Describing the ageing society in terms of a ‘demographic time bomb’ is misguided say the authors.
The baby boom generation is defined by two distinct – and sometimes conflicting – attitudes: social activism and individualism. The defining character of the ‘new old’ will depend on whether their individualism or social activism wins out.
The authors suggest that baby boomers could turn into ‘the selfish generation’, which contrasts with the Dunkirk spirit of their parents, or ‘civic defenders’ who push for wider social change as they have done in the past.
The challenge for future governments and political leaders is to persuade the baby boom generation to continue to embrace their radicalism, which has made them the leaders of social change at every stage of their lives.
‘Future governments will have to do a deal with the baby boomer generation,’ say Julia Huberand Paul Skidmore, the authors of The New Old. ‘Attempts to encourage people to continue working without offering something in return will lead to a baby boomer backlash.
‘At the same time, the welfare state could reach breaking point if the baby boomers use their political muscle to force governments to prioritise their own public services at the expense of society as a whole.’
The authors identify two major social issues where the baby boomers attitudes could rewrite the political agenda and cause problems for future governments:
- failure to deal with increased expectations placed on quality and choice in public services, which baby boomers tend to view from the perspective of consumers rather than citizens;
- nudging up the retirement age in the workplace, as the present government is attempting, without offering baby boomers greater flexibility in their in later life to readjust their work/life balance;
‘A new generation of 17 million older people are marching towards retirement with a clear set of demands,’ says Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern. ‘The boomers are unlikely to put up and shut up. If the political parties fail to listen to the boomers on priority issues like the provision of public services and retirement then they could be punished at the ballot box.’
Demos sets out 11 challenges for policy-makers in dealing with the coming social revolution and makes some specific recommendations, including:
- The development of so-called ‘granny creches’ in workplaces which would enable employed people to juggle jobs and care of older relatives;
- Creation of a new opportunities for ‘elderpreneurs’ to fulfil lifelong ambitions to start new businesses or social enterprises, including low-risk equity release schemes, underwritten by the government;
- Requiring all new housing developments to be ‘elder-enabled’ to break up ‘grey ghettos’ and promote multi-generational living.
Notes for editors
- The New Old: Why the baby boomers won’t be pensioned off is published by Demos with Age Concern England on Thursday 4 September 2003.
- Demos is an independent think tank with a strong interest in family lives and long-term societal change. Julia Huber and Paul Skidmore are researchers at Demos.
- Age Concern is the leading charity in the UK concerned with ageing and older people, and works to improve the quality of life for all older people.