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Intergenerational contract in Ageing Democracies: sustainable Welfare Systems and the interests of future generations
Journal
Medicine, Health Care, and Philosophy
Journal Volume
25
Journal Issue
3
Pages
531
End Page
539
Date Issued
2022-09
Author(s)
Abstract
As the assumptions of perpetual economic and population growth no longer stand, the welfare systems built on such promises are in peril. Policymakers must reallocate the responsibility for providing care between generations. Democratic theories can help establish procedures for finding solutions, particularly in ageing democratic countries. By analysing existing representative and deliberative democratic theories, this paper explores how the interests of future generations could be included in such procedures. A hypothetical social health insurance scheme with the pay-as-you-go financial arrangement is selected as an illustrative case. This paper argues that due to the intrinsic bias towards the current generation, both representative and deliberative democratic health policymaking are limited in making decisions that account for future generations. Instead, their interests could be at best represented by benevolent representatives.
Subjects
Health system; Intergenerational equity; Intergenerational solidarity; Long-term care system; Sustainability
Publisher
SPRINGER
Type
journal article