class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>
When it comes to the pension initiative, proponents are bringing out the big guns. “We are clearly heading into a demographic storm with gigantic cost consequences,” says the young liberal president Matthias Müller (31) before a yes vote. And the FDP national councilor of Zurich, Andri Silberschmidt (29), warns of a “100 billion hole”.
The reason for the horror scenario: demographic developments. Life expectancy continues to rise – despite the corona-related setback – and with the baby boom generation, baby boomers are currently reaching retirement age. This puts pressure on the AHV fund.
The Jungfreisinn wants to solve this problem with its pension initiative, which will be voted on on March 3. First, the retirement age should be gradually increased from 65 to 66 years in 2033, and then linked to life expectancy – to 67, 68 years or older. Automatically.
Elsewhere the retirement age is higher
Working after the age of 65 already exists in many countries. Some countries already have a more or less automatic adjustment mechanism that links the retirement age directly to life expectancy. These include Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden, according to a report from the Federal Social Insurance Agency.
In Italy, for example, the retirement age has been increased from 60 to 67 since 2012. In the Netherlands, the retirement age was 66 years and seven months in 2022 and is now gradually increasing to 67 years. From 2026, the retirement age in Sweden will also be 67. And in Denmark, the retirement age is expected to be raised from the current 67 to 68 in 2030, and even to 69 in 2035.
‘Optimism for the future’ is crucial
“To solve the demographic problems, we cannot avoid raising the retirement age in Switzerland,” says demography researcher Hendrik Budliger (49) of the Demographics Competence Center. The life expectancy of the Swiss population continues to increase. And: “The life expectancy of men and women is becoming equal, men are catching up.”
However, experts disagree on whether life expectancy continues to increase significantly or whether it is slowly leveling off and stagnating. “A decisive factor for life expectancy is how optimistic a person is about the future,” Budliger explains. This optimism for the future depends on whether people invest in their own education or in health care.
Those who do not have a positive outlook are more prone to alcohol, drugs or obesity. With associated consequences: “Life expectancy is declining again in certain countries for less educated or socially disadvantaged men – we are already seeing this in the US and the Netherlands.” However, among women the trend is still increasing. “Women generally lead healthier lifestyles than men.”
Demographic research also discusses where the biological boundary lies. The oldest person to date was over 122 years old. For Budliger it is clear: “There will be more people in their prime, but whether we will see new age records is another question.”
Young people are missing because of the low birth rate
The age structure is becoming a social challenge not only because of the many elderly people, but also because of the lack of young people. “The birth rate in Switzerland is far too low and immigration is far too small to compensate for the aging population – even if the baby boom wave has been overcome,” says Budliger. The share of workers between the ages of 20 and 65 is stagnating. The latter would therefore have to bear increasingly greater burdens.
There will be a pension showdown at the ballot box on March 3. The voters will then decide on two AHV initiatives: on the one hand, on the unions’ popular initiative for a 13th AHV pension. On the other hand, about the pension initiative of the Young Liberals.
The trade unions’ popular initiative “for a better life in old age” calls for the introduction of a 13th AHV pension. If the answer is yes, a thirteenth monthly salary for seniors will be added to the previous twelve monthly pensions.
The Young Liberals’ pension initiative wants to increase the retirement age. First, it must gradually increase from 65 to 66 years by 2033 and then be linked to life expectancy: for each additional month of life expectancy, it must increase by 0.8 months – to 67, 68 or more. Automatically.
Details about both initiatives can be found here.
There will be a pension showdown at the ballot box on March 3. The voters will then decide on two AHV initiatives: on the one hand, on the popular initiative of the trade unions for a 13th AHV pension. On the other hand, about the pension initiative of the Young Liberals.
The trade unions’ popular initiative “for a better life in old age” calls for the introduction of a 13th AHV pension. If the answer is yes, a thirteenth monthly salary for seniors will be added to the previous twelve monthly pensions.
The Young Liberals’ pension initiative wants to increase the retirement age. First, it must gradually increase from 65 to 66 years by 2033 and then be linked to life expectancy: for each additional month of life expectancy, it must increase by 0.8 months – to 67, 68 or more. Automatically.
Details about both initiatives can be found here.
Budliger speaks of a gap in the labor market: the difference between those who start working in a given year at the age of 20 and those who simultaneously reach retirement age at the age of 65. He places the peak in the year 2029: this is the time when these values drift the most apart before slowly converging again.
Young old people take care of old, old people
“To reduce the problem of this gap in the labor market, the labor force must grow,” says Budliger. This can only be achieved through a significantly higher birth rate, massively higher immigration and a higher retirement age. “Many of today’s 65-year-olds feel healthier and younger than previous generations,” he says. The labor market needs these people to guarantee supply. “Young seniors increasingly have to care for the elderly, for example in the nursing sector.”
Budliger does not view a higher retirement age as negative. “Working longer is not only a must, but also allowed,” he believes. “Even with an increase, you still have twenty to thirty years left when you retire.”
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
