Growing role of intergenerational equity ideas on public health
Questions of intergenerational equity may lead to protests and more studied appraisal of the underlying bases for prioritising the needs of some current generations over others.
Intergenerational equity has remained a back-burner idea for many years, but the demographic shifts of the present period may bring it to the fore. One extreme scenario sees disempowered younger generations politically and economically opposing, or even mounting attacks on, expensive facilities and services catering to affluent sections of the older population. Should age groups become more polarised, the consequences may include rethinking the rationales for the allocation of resources to different communities and conditions. This would be unlikely to proceed without controversy and conflict such as legal and other challenges to specific decisions, and mismatches between advice to different professions.
Sources or references
Numerous academic and some professional essays, including:
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
