Inequality among the Elderly:
Conference Asks Questions about Pension and Health Justice [26.04.18]
4/5 May 2018: International Expert Workshop “The Economics of Ageing and Inequality” by the Universities of Harvard, Stanford, Hohenheim, Fudan, and the Swiss World Demographic & Ageing Forum / University of Hohenheim, Palace, 70599 Stuttgart
Health, quality of life, and pension assets for different demographic groups are increasingly drifting apart - especially for the elderly. Political measures are necessary to mitigate society’s economic inequalities. This quintessence can already be drawn in advance of the international conference “The Economics of Ageing and Inequality” at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. The event is organized in cooperation with the Universities of Harvard, Stanford, and Fudan as well as the World Demographic & Ageing Forum and the Journal of the Economics of Ageing. A press conference is not planned, but the organizers are happy to arrange interviews. Interview and accreditation requests should be sent via email or fax. The program and contact information can be found at inepa.uni-hohenheim.de
“With studies and models from Germany, Austria, the USA, and China, we will use these four case studies to examine how the ageing population and developing inequalities interact and how increasing inequality can be seen among the ageing population. Examples include the large differences in life expectations between poor and rich demographic groups in the USA as well as the fact that a large portion of German households have not built up any significant financial assets for retirement, meaning they are at risk for poverty in old age,” explained Prof. Dr. Klaus Prettner, spokesperson for the research focus “Inequality and Economic Policy Analysis (INEPA)” at the University of Hohenheim as one of the organizers.
“The conference contributions also look into possible reforms of the social and tax systems or evaluate measures such as part-time work for the elderly and long-term care insurance,” added Prof. Dr. Alfonso Sousa-Poza, co-organizer at the University of Hohenheim.
Exchange among Top International Experts / Arranging Telephone Interviews
The conference will start on 4 May 2018 at 8:45 a.m. in the Palace on the University of Hohenheim’s campus. The opening keynote speech will be held by one of the world’s most renowned experts on the topic: David E. Bloom from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University (USA).
In all, the event organizers will greet 25 of the most knowledgeable experts from Germany, Austria, the USA, France, China, and other countries. The conference language is English.
Interviews for media representatives can also be arranged by telephone. Interview and accreditation requests should be sent via email or fax.
German Panel Discussion with Prof. Dr. Butterwegge Before Conference
Independently of the international conference, the University of Hohenheim will be hosting an expert discussion on Thursday, 3 May 2018 on the topic “Social Inequality in Germany” with Prof. Dr. Christoph Butterwegge. The emeritus political scientist from the University of Cologne is considered one of Germany’s leading experts on the topic of poverty and social inequality.
In their discussion, the experts will examine the scope of the consequences of social inequality, look at how these consequences can be seen in Germany, and make comparisons to other countries - and argue about whether a universal basic income could actually be a solution to these problems. The event will be moderated by Axel Graser (SWR).
The occasion for the panel discussion is the 200th birthday of Karl Marx. The occasion for the international conference and panel discussion is the University of Hohenheim’s 200th anniversary.
BACKGROUND: Next World Program
The expert conference “The Economics of Inequality and Ageing” is being organized in the context of the “Next World Program”. The program is a joint initiative by the “Program on the Global Demography of Ageing” at Harvard University (USA), the World Demographic & Ageing Forum / WDA Forum St. Gallen (Switzerland), the “Asia Health Policy Program” at Stanford University
Text: Klebs
Contact for press:
Prof. Dr. Klaus Prettner, University of Hohenheim, Spokesperson for the Research Focus Inequality and Economic Policy Analysis (INEPA), Dept. Economics: Growth and Distribution
T +49 711 459-23592, E klaus.prettner@uni-hohenheim.de.
Prof. Dr. Alfonso Sousa-Poza, University of Hohenheim, Dept. Household and Consumer Economics
T +49 711 459-22863, E alfonso.sousa-poza@uni-hohenheim.de
