Ten years remain before Germany starts feeling the full force of demographic change. We need to use this time to prepare our welfare systems. In principle, everything has already been said, but the measures deemed necessary need to be implemented, such as raising the retirement age to 67, limiting statutory health services, placing nursing care insurance on a funded footing and so on. The key factor behind demographic change in Germany is the lack of children. Without children, responsibility for retirement and nursing care provision falls increasingly on the shoulders of the individual.
Demographics - what lies ahead?
Ignoring imponderables related to a shift in immigration policy, the demographic trend in Germany is relatively easy to gauge and practically inexorable. It is now up to society as a whole and to each individual to make the necessary arrangements.
Dr. Jürgen Stanowsky
Tel.: +49.69.2 63 – 1 83 45
juergen.stanowsky@dresdner-bank.com