One of the main social policy challenges of ageing societies is to secure an adequate level of income for all older persons without overstretching the capacities of younger generations.

The relevance of population ageing for the coming decades has been underscored by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002.

In view of the ageing of populations around the world, there is increasing concern as to whether social security schemes will be sustainable in the context of these challenges. Much of the discussion on old age pension reform and cost containment in health care has revolved around the issue of economic sustainability in the face of ageing populations. The future viability of ageing societies will inevitably depend on whether the provision of social security is economically sustainable. Nevertheless, this is only one side of the coin. On the other side of the coin, and of equal importance, is the social sustainability of an ageing population. If greater emphasis is increasingly placed on individual choice and responsibility, how can it be ensured that this will not lead to a more pronounced segmentation, not to mention possible destabilization, of society?

How can social security systems be adapted to the challenges and opportunities of ageing societies around the world? How can the social security of the population be ensured in an efficient and equitable way? The future of ageing societies depends on the success with which economic and social sustainability can be combined in a comprehensive approach to social security.

This contribution identifies a set of ten issues relating to ageing and sustainable social security and discusses them in the light of recent policy discussions and trends.

31 pp.

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