The emergence of a new scientific paradigm concerning an old phenomenon: demographic aging

Abstract

Demographers should reconsider their approach toward demographic aging in industrialized countries look at it in a positive light and conduct research on aging to be ready for the inevitable. Most of the demographic literature considers the aging of the society as a socioeconomic disaster threatening the whole social structure and economic fabric. The phenomenon is actually more complex. Demographic aging is different for example if it derives from longer life expectancy from that resulting from lower fertility in young generations. The chief argument for aging as a threat is the imbalance of active to retired people upsetting the ratio of workers paying into social security. This argument is a fallacy because productivity is much more important than numbers of employed persons. Societies have endured much more serious imbalances in the past and sometimes even profited by them. Demographers should consider an alternative scenario to the notion of marginalization of the elderly who are poor senile handicapped infirm and unable to adapt. There will also be many who are wealthy aware creative experienced and professionally qualified and in control of not only their own lives but of societal trends. The author calls them "gray panthers." It is vital that demographers study aging on a societal level and learn the optimal conditions needed for adaptation to aging of the society. A few institutions are beginning to do so and are listed.