05 September 2003
The baby boom generation could push the public services to breaking point if they force the government to bow to their consumerist demands, according to a leading think-tank.
Demos argues that the attitudes of the generation born between 1945 and 1965 could 'rewrite the political agenda' as they move towards retirement and call increasingly on the resources of the state.
Its report, The new old, why baby boomers won't be pensioned off, published on September 4, identifies two issues where baby boomers may cause problems for future governments.
Their status as founding members of the consumer society means they are unlikely to tolerate governments' failure to meet increased expectations of quality and choice in public services, the report said.
They will not accept the treatment meted out to previous generations of pensioners and will instead use their experience of pushing for change to insist that their needs are met on issues such as pensions and elderly care.
The report concludes that they will also insist on greater workplace flexibility and more emphasis on work-life balance in return for accepting later retirement and more modest pensions.
Julia Huberand, who wrote the report with Paul Skidmore, said politicians would have to 'do a deal' with this generation to avoid social strife. 'Attempts to encourage people to continue working without offering something in return will lead to a baby boomer backlash,' she warned.
'At the same time, the welfare state could reach breaking point if the baby boomers use their political muscle to force governments to prioritise their own public services at the expense of society as a whole.'
The report suggests initiatives such as 'granny crèches', so workers can juggle their careers with caring for elderly relatives, and financial incentives for 'elderpreneurs' to launch businesses and social enterprises. It also calls for a rethink on housing policy to stop 'grey ghettos'.
Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, which helped in preparing the report, backed its findings. 'A new generation of 17 million older people are marching towards retirement with a clear set of demands,' he said.
'The boomers are unlikely to put up and shut up. If the political parties fail to listen on priority issues like the provision of public services and retirement then they could be punished at the ballot box.'
PFsep2003
