Lecture 24: What is ‘old’? : Ageing in the 21st century
2018/3/27 13:47:35
Lecture 24: What is ‘old’? : Ageing in the 21st century Mar . 27 . 2018
Speaker：Assoc. Prof. Stuart Gietel-Basten
Associate Professor of Social Science and Public Policy, Associate Director of the Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Host：Prof. Jiannan Wu
Distinguished Professor, Executive Vice Director, China Institute for Urban Governance, Head, Division of Liberal Arts and Social Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Time：2018. 03. 28.（Wednesday）16:00-17:15 p.m.
Location：Room 223, Xinjian Building, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Xuhui Campus
Organizers：China Institute for Urban Governance, School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Abstract：
Ageing is presented as an existential threat to the economy and society of many countries of the world – not least China. Indeed, it is sometimes presented as a ‘silver tsunami’ – a demographic tidal wave which we are helpless to either try to prevent or to live with. However, this view of a ‘tsunami’ means that we are viewing the ‘challenge’ in a very ill-defined way. This can lead to misunderstanding what needs to be done and, potentially, a ‘policy paralysis’ as the future simply becomes viewed as hopeless.
In this talk, I will try to present some alternative ways of conceptualising ageing, and to challenge the orthodox measures which we use. In doing so we can have a more realistic, dynamic view of ageing today and in the future. This can allow us to better understand the nature of the challenge of population ageing and, hence, design better policies to tackle it.
Speaker Introduction：
Stuart Gietel-Basten is Associate Professor of Social Science and Public Policy and Associate Director of the Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Prior to this, he was Associate Professor of Social Policy at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on the interaction between demographic change and policy in Asia.