Subjective Assessment of Seniors on the Phenomenon of Discrimination: Analysis Against the Background of the Europe 2020 Strategy Implementation

Abstract

Purpose: Our study aimed to compare objective factors increasing discrimination and subjective feelings of seniors about discrimination. Additionally, we have attempted to indicate whether the elderly is discriminated against and to what extent they report such situations. Design/Methodology/Approach: The linear ordering by Hellwig's method was used to construct Taxonomic Measure of Preventing Exclusion (TMPEi) and synthetic measures for finding the level of discrimination perception by seniors. Eurostat data was used to construct the TMPEi and Special Eurobarometer data to learn about senior subjective assessment of discrimination. Findings: The construction of an additional taxonomic measure allowed for determining a negative relationship between the level of socio-economic development of a given country and the risk of discrimination. Comparing the EU countries' classification based on the obtained values with the results of the classification made based on the TMPEi allowed to check whether the lower risk of exclusion results in less discriminatory behavior and whether it influences seniors' better assessments in terms of the discrimination they observe. Practical Implications: As a result, the possibility of applying for an institutional response of the European Union countries to the problems identified by seniors reflecting discrimination against citizens was assumed. Seniors constitute a growing social group. For this reason, they will have an increasing impact not only on social policy but also on product and service markets and, by participating in elections, they will decide who will run the countries. Originality/Value: Because implementing strategic goals is usually controlled at the level of measurable indicators, the undertaken research constitutes an innovative approach to evaluating the implementation level of the Europe 2020 strategy. Our study is unique and fills the gap in researching the subjective assessment of seniors against discrimination.