Recent trends and future prospects for the elderly in Scandinavia

After World War II, and all through the 1970s, social and economic development in general, and social policy in particular, raised the standard of living for old people in Scandinavia considerably. Public provision then leveled off and declined through the 1980s, with some variation between the countries. While the aging of the population continues, the political and economic climate now favors cuts rather than expansion of public budgets. Any further development along these lines will reinforce the inequalities, and place a growing number of the elderly and their families at risk.