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IWS Documented News Service
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Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
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European Commission

Eurobarometer 378

ACTIVE AGEING [13 January 2012]

http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_378_en.pdf

[full-text, 261 pages]

The Eurobarometer survey on Active Ageing has been commissioned by the European Commission 's Directorate General for the Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion to understand citizens' views and attitudes towards older people , the contribution of older people in the workplace and society, and how to best promote an active role of older people in society.

[excerpt]

Active ageing is not just about the participation of older workers in the labour market,

it's about their active contribution to society through voluntary work, notably as family

carers, or the possibility to live independently thanks to adapted housing and

infrastructure.

The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations aims to

encourage all key players to do what they can to create a society where older people can

play their part. It is a huge opportunity to raise awareness, to exchange good practice

and, most importantly, to foster a change in attitudes and policies.

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 7

1. OVERALL PERCEPTIONS OF AGEING AND OLDER PEOPLE ....................... 10

1.1. Definition of old age ............................................................................ 10

1.2. Subjective attitudes to age and well being .............................................. 15

1.3. How older people are perceived ............................................................ 21

1.4. Age discrimination .............................................................................. 31

1.5. Ageing population and life expectancy .................................................... 35

2. OLDER PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE ....................................................... 47

2.1. Barriers to older people in the workplace ................................................ 47

2.2. Perceptions of older people in the workplace ........................................... 52

2.3. Expectations for the career end ............................................................. 55

3. RETIREMENT AND PENSIONS .................................................................. 58

3.1. Official retirement age ......................................................................... 58

3.2. Compulsory retirement age .................................................................. 80

3.3. The gender dimension of pensions ......................................................... 85

4. VOLUNTARY WORK AND SUPPORT FOR OLDER PEOPLE .......................... 88

4.1. Voluntary work and active participation .................................................. 88

4.2. Helping older people .......................................................................... 100

5. TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF AGEING .............................................. 106

5.1. Age-friendly environment ................................................................... 106

5.2. Local authorities and role of institutions ............................................... 116

CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................ 122

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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 262-6041               
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
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