REGIONS FOR ALL AGES: THE IMPLICATIONS OF DEMOGRAPHIC AGEING FOR REGIONAL POLICY Final Report January 2006 European Policies Research Centre University of Strathclyde Graham Hills Building 40 George Street Glasgow G1 1QE United Kingdom Tel: +44-141-548-3920 Fax: +44-141-548-4898 e-mail: [email protected] Regions for All Ages: The Implications of Demographic Ageing for Regional Policy PREFACE This report has been prepared by the European Policies Research Centre (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow) as a study of the implications of demographic ageing for regional development polices. The project was supported by the following organisations, whose sponsorship is gratefully acknowledged in making the research possible: • The European Older People’s Platform (AGE) • Age Concern England (ACE) • Northern Ireland Executive (Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) • North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) • Scottish Enterprise The report is a contribution to the Regions for All Ages programme, which aims to highlight the importance of demographic ageing at sub-national level and point out main issues for regional policy. Regions for All Ages is a collaborative and inclusive programme supported by a number of organisations from all sectors. The research also acknowledges the assistance provided by the broader Regions for All Ages Advisory Group comprising a mix of academic experts, policy makers and organisations active in the field of demographic ageing, who advised on data sources and potential case studies. The Advisory Group consists of the following people: • Professor John Bachtler, University of Strathclyde, Scotland • Mr Richard Baker, Co-ordinator, Regions for All Ages programme, Age Concern England • Ms Jess Barrow, Scottish Executive • Mr Matthew Brooke, DG Regional Policy, European Commission • Professor Joos Droogleever Fortuijn, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands • Dr Claus Eppe, Government of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany • Professor Irene Hardill, Regional Studies Association • Mr Ronnie Hall, DG Regional Policy, European Commission • Ms Stephanie Harland, Age Concern England • Mr Peter Hart, North West Regional Assembly, England • Dr Petri Kahlia, University of Helsinki, Finland • Mr Michele Maglio, Regione del Veneto, Italy • Mrs Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE, European Older People's Platform • Ms Annette Scholl, Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe, Germany • Mr Petr Wija, Government of the Czech Republic European Policies Research Centre i University of Strathclyde Regions for All Ages: The Implications of Demographic Ageing for Regional Policy The report has been written by Dr Martin Ferry, Dr Vít Novotný, Vincenzo Mancusi, Tobias Gross and Professor John Bachtler and is the responsibility of the authors alone. The field research team consisted of the following EPRC researchers: Emilia-Romagna (Italy) Vincenzo Mancusi Kainnu (Finland) Martin Ferry Noord-Brabant (The Netherlands) Vít Novotný Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany) Tobias Gross North West (England, UK) Martin Ferry Wales (UK) Martin Ferry European Policies Research Centre ii University of Strathclyde Regions for All Ages: The Implications of Demographic Ageing for Regional Policy TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE......................................................................................................... i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................... vii 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 2. DRIVERS OF REGIONAL RESPONSES TO POPULATION AGEING ................................ 3 2.1 Demographic trends.................................................................................3 2.2 Analysing the implications of demographic trends.............................................7 2.2.1 The importance of the regional dimension ................................................ 10 3. POLICY RESPONSES ..................................................................................11 3.1 The European Union .............................................................................. 11 3.1.1 Lisbon agenda ................................................................................... 11 3.1.2 Cohesion policy ................................................................................. 12 3.2 National experiences and policies .............................................................. 14 3.2.1 Baltic and Central European countries ..................................................... 14 3.2.2 United Kingdom and Ireland .................................................................. 15 3.2.3 Mediterranean countries ...................................................................... 16 3.2.4 Nordic countries ................................................................................ 17 3.2.5 Continental Western European countries .................................................. 18 3.3 The emergence of regional ageing strategies across the EU ............................... 19 4. CASE STUDIES .........................................................................................23 4.1 Case study of Emilia-Romagna (Italy) .......................................................... 23 4.1.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 A Society for All Ages.......................................................................... 23 4.1.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 24 4.2 Case study of Kainuu (Finland).................................................................. 25 4.2.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 25 4.2.2 Regional Programme 2003-2006 and Regional Plan 2020 ................................ 26 4.2.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 27 4.3 Case study of Noord-Brabant (The Netherlands) ............................................. 28 4.3.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 28 4.3.2 Brabant between Dejuvenation and Demographic Ageing ............................... 29 4.3.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 30 4.4 Case study of Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)............................................... 31 4.4.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 31 4.4.2 Programmes in Nordrhein-Westfalen ....................................................... 31 4.4.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 32 4.5 Case study of North West (England, UK)....................................................... 33 4.5.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 33 4.5.2 5050vision........................................................................................ 34 4.5.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 35 4.6 Case study of Wales (UK)......................................................................... 36 4.6.1 Policy context ................................................................................... 36 European Policies Research Centre iii University of Strathclyde Regions for All Ages: The Implications of Demographic Ageing for Regional Policy 4.6.2 Strategy for Older People in Wales ......................................................... 36 4.6.3 Assessment ...................................................................................... 38 5. SYNTHESIS AND DISCUSSION .......................................................................41 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 41 5.2 Regional case studies ............................................................................. 41 5.3 Policy focus: broadening the agenda........................................................... 42 5.4 Policy design: developing the appropriate response ........................................ 44 5.5 Policy delivery: coordinating responses ....................................................... 45 5.6 Key issues........................................................................................... 48 A. ANNEX ..................................................................................................51 A.1 Emilia-Romagna (Italy) ........................................................................... 51 A.1.1 National policy context........................................................................ 51 A.1.2 Regional context................................................................................ 53 A.1.3 Developing a regional strategy to address ageing in a Mediterranean context – structure, aims and objectives............................................................... 56 A.1.4 Implementation and delivery................................................................. 57 A.1.5 Assessment ...................................................................................... 59 A.2 Kainuu (Finland) ................................................................................... 61 A.2.1 National policy context.......................................................................