Social Welfare Systems in Asia and Europe

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Social Welfare Systems in Asia and Europe
Asia-Europe Young Leaders Forum Scheveningen,
28th November to 3rd December 2004 Thomas
Gerard, Vu Xuan Nguyet Hong, Benedict Madl,
Hasney Mat Yassin, Ivo Maryska, Aria Wibisono,
Arthur Forbes, Michael Bride, Sandra Chu, Linda
Yeo, Kristina Jönsson, Per Lundberg, Nadariya
Phromyothi, Elisabeth Schröder-Butterfill
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Challenges
Demographic Change
Economic Constraints
Policy making at regional and global level
Migration
Ageing
Health care
Housing
Social change (e.g. family structure, gender
roles)
Growing relative poverty
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Welfare Systems for Older People
Formal
Singapore
Sweden
Private
Public
UK
UK
Indonesia
Collective
Individual
Family
Charity/Voluntary
Indonesia
Informal
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• Recommendations
• Over-reliance on one source is not good,
  mixed/composite system advisable.
• Vibrant informal sector is desirable.
• Political coordination within and between regions
  is necessary.
• Universal healthcare is a key foundation-stone of
  a robust welfare system.
• View older people as a resource, not a cost.
• Means testing will be a big issue in the future.