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KMID : 0379220090290020563
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Journal of Korea Gerontological Society
2009 Volume.29 No. 2 p.563 ~ p.578
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The political-economical meaning and implication of "Generation Equity" debate in the Welfare States
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Shin Chang-Hwan
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Abstract
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Public pension system of western welfare states has been maintained by transfers of public resources
between working-age population and old-age population. But population aging cause the problem of fiscal
burden on pension financing, so cutback on public spending for the elderly has been on the issue at public agenda. The argument on public spending for the elderly is more aggressively proceeded in the United States than any other welfare states. The argument is concerned with the problems of generation and is going under the rhetoric name of ‘Generational Equity’ which contends unequal distribution of social resources such as federal budget within generations. This article analyzes the background of ‘Generational Equity’ perspective and the reason why that argument is actively going forward in the U. S. and political-economy context of that argument. Generational Equity perspective contends that the elderly are getting more benefits and high spending on the elderly has contributing to the rising poverty rate of children. But there are lots of objection to this perspective on the ground that the perspective has weak positive evidences. The reason that ‘Generational Equity’ perspective has the power only in the U. S. but other welfare states is mainly due to that pluralistic political regime and selective welfare system. This research presents that political-economy meaning of ‘Generational Equity’ perspective is related to the political regime and welfare system of the society itself. And this research has the implication that our society having a selective welfare system would take a risk of encountering ‘Generational Equity’ social debate in the near future.
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KEYWORD
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generational equity, public pension, poverty ratio of old, poverty ratio of children, pluralistic political system, generous welfare program
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