Intergenerational equity

Grandfather and grandchild
The U.S. National Debt is often cited as an example of intergenerational inequity, as future generations will have the responsibility of paying it off. The U.S. National Debt has grown substantially over the past several decades. Relative to total GDP, the debt burden has worsened in the past several years.

Intergenerational equity in economic, psychological, and sociological contexts, is the idea of fairness or justice between generations. The concept can be applied to fairness in dynamics between children, youth, adults, and seniors. It can also be applied to fairness between generations currently living and future generations.[1]

Conversations about intergenerational equity may include basic human needs, economic needs, environmental needs and subjective human well-being.[2] It is often discussed in public economics, especially with regard to transition economics,[3] social policy, and government budget-making.[4] Many cite the growing U.S. national debt as an example of intergenerational inequity, as future generations will shoulder the consequences. Intergenerational equity is also explored in environmental concerns,[5] including sustainable development,[6] and climate change. The continued depletion of natural resources that has occurred in the past century will likely be a significant burden for future generations. Intergenerational equity is also discussed with regard to standards of living, specifically on inequities in the living standards experienced by people of different ages and generations.[7][8][9][10][11] Intergenerational equity issues also arise in the arenas of elderly care, social justice, and housing affordability.[12][13][14]

  1. ^ McMullan, Sarah (August 5, 2017). "The Big Read: Generation wars". Herald Scotland.
  2. ^ Summers, J. K.; Smith, L. M. (October 2014). "The Role of Social and Intergenerational Equity in Making Changes in Human Well-Being Sustainable". Ambio. 43 (6): 718–728. doi:10.1007/s13280-013-0483-6. ISSN 0044-7447. PMC 4165836. PMID 24402649.
  3. ^ (2005) "Economics of Intergenerational Equity in Transition Economies" Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine The PIE International Workshop[better source needed] (10–11 March 2005)
  4. ^ Thompson, J. (May 2003) Research Paper no. 7 2002-03 Intergenerational Equity: Issues of Principle in the Allocation of Social Resources Between this Generation and the Next Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Social Policy Group for the Parliament of Australia.
  5. ^ Gosseries, Axel (November 26, 2008). "Theories of intergenerational justice: a synopsis". S.A.P.I.EN.S. 1 (1) – via journals.openedition.org.
  6. ^ Carter, Neil. (2005) Core Principles of Sustainable Development Archived 2012-05-24 at the Wayback Machine Cambridge University Press. Fathom.com
  7. ^ d'Albis, Hippolyte; Badji, Ikpidi (2017). "Intergenerational inequalities in standards of living in France" (PDF). Économie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics. 491–492: 71–92. doi:10.24187/ecostat.2017.491d.1906.
  8. ^ d'Albis, Hippolyte; Badji, Ikpidi; El Mekkaoui, Najat; Navaux, Julien (2020). "Private asset income in France: Is there a breakdown of intergenerational equity between 1979 and 2011?" (PDF). Journal of the Economics of Ageing. 17 (100137): 100137. doi:10.1016/j.jeoa.2017.11.002. S2CID 158450251.
  9. ^ Rice, James M.; Temple, Jeromey B.; McDonald, Peter F. (2017). "Private and public consumption across generations in Australia" (PDF). Australasian Journal on Ageing. 36 (4): 279–285. doi:10.1111/ajag.12489. hdl:11343/253838. PMID 29205845. S2CID 21715593.
  10. ^ Rice, James Mahmud; Temple, Jeromey B.; McDonald, Peter F. (2021). "Intergenerational inequality and the intergenerational state". Journal of Population Research. 38 (4): 367–399. doi:10.1007/s12546-021-09273-1. S2CID 239233692.
  11. ^ Rice, James Mahmud; Wilson, Tom; Temple, Jeromey B.; McDonald, Peter (2022). "The impact of demographic and economic change on the Australian generational economy: Financial sustainability, intergenerational inequality, and material living standards". Frontiers in Public Health. 10: 798298. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.798298. PMC 9237328. PMID 35774565. S2CID 249628645.
  12. ^ Stephen Long (2021-11-01). "From a 'class divide' to 'intergenerational theft', Australia's real estate frenzy leaves many behind". ABC.
  13. ^ Elle Hunt (2021-03-19). "'Can you help me?': The quiet desperation of New Zealand's housing crisis". The Guardian.
  14. ^ David Willetts (2019-07-03). "Intergenerational warfare: Who stole the millennials' future?". Financial Times.