How to handle gerontocracy

Abstract

Purpose

The article demonstrates the dangers of gerontocracy and offers solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The article combines desk research, literature review and economic analytical reasoning.

Findings

Gerontocracy in developed countries is a threat to financial, labour market and political sustainability of care for older people. Without actions today, the problem will become bigger every year, not least because of increased electoral weight of older people. This article proposes to handle gerontocracy in two ways. First is by using the potential of healthy retired people as volunteers, thereby mitigating the intergenerational solidarity challenges. Second is by taxing part of the windfall profits on the housing market, where older generation profited disproportionally.

Originality/value

The added value of the article is twofold. First, it signals a serious problem in affluent societies that is largely ignored, both in the academic world and in politics. Second, it offers original solutions that mitigate the problem.

Citation

Canoy, M., Krabbe, Y. and Koolman, X. (2023), "How to handle gerontocracy", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 158-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICA-07-2022-0036