Ageing, Welfare, and the Sustainability of Societies

Aim

After completing the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

• in relation to the UN sustainability goals, discuss the implications of ageing and the contemporary demographical shifts of welfare states and welfare policies
• critically discuss ageing, care, pensions, and extended working lives in Sweden, Scandinavia and Europe from a sustainability perspective
• problematise and present conclusions as well as arguments orally and in a written form according to academic principles
• under the lens of economical sustainability and intergenerational solidarity, reflect and appraise structural barriers relevant to ageing, as well as welfare and labour policies relevant to ageing

Content

In the course, the interconnection between ageing, social change, and the sustainability problems of societies from a national, Scandinavian, European, and global perspective is introduced. Moreover, the foundations of the welfare system are addressed. Knowledge is provided on how demographic change interferes with shifts in working lives, health, care, and old-age care as well as pension systems. Moreover, the political and financial implications of demographic trends and their interconnection with the lives of the ageing population are discussed. The contemporary political and scientific discourse in this field is analysed and reflected, giving a fertile ground for problematization on the topics of care, welfare, and policies on extended working lives.