Social Policy Towards Population Ageing: a Suggested Term Conceptualisation

Abstract

The article discusses Sweden as a classic example of "late exit from the labour market" culture [Hult & Edlund 2008], and as a country which stands out internationally for its effective policies of the occupational activation of elderly people. Sweden represents the culture of "late exit" because employment rates among seniors, both in pre-retirement and retirement age, are among the highest in Europe. In search of the reasons for such outstanding activity in Swedish seniors, the researcher reviews various instruments of senior employment policies in Sweden. The analysis covers such areas as employment policies, pension scheme reforms, antidiscrimination laws, fiscal policies, lifelong learning, and others. The research is theoretical and methodologically-based on public policy review and literature review. It concludes that the high employment rate among elderly people in Sweden results from some characteristics of the Nordic model, such as the policy of full employment, commitment to the principle of equal opportunities, and high investments in human capital. Besides legislative incentives, the late exit from the labour market is also the consequence of cultural determinants, national mentality, and the social activity of the people.