Policy Insights

Population Europe (PE): Can research tell us what is more damaging for children’s future: a lack of money or a lack of parents’ time in their early childhood?

Helga de Valk on meeting and mating in the European Union single market: Population Europe (PE): Why is research on intermarriage relevant for the future of the European Union?

Population Europe: What is the EU’s interest in research on families?   Marc Goffart: The EU’s research interest in families dates back to the late ‘80s, but actual policy developments (at the EU and international level, such as the OECD) are of more recent nature, which have initially centred around the demographic developments in Europe.

Population Europe: Migration is the most uncertain demographic component. Do we really know what happens to migrants in times of recession? Jakub Bijak: We know even less than during the periods of stable economy. Under any circumstances immigration is quite difficult to measure and predict, or even to define in a precise way. During the crisis the situation is even worse, as migration becomes more volatile.

The JPI Data Map provides new insights and numbers on the topic of ageing. It is a joint effort of the members of the Joint Programming Innitiative (JPI) “More Years, Better Lives – The Challenges and Opportunities of Demographic Change”. The interactive Data Map is accesible online for free. Population Europe: What is the main contribution of the new Data Map?  

Population Europe: In February this year, the large EU project "FamiliesAndSocieties – Changing families and sustainable societies: Policy contexts and diversity over the life course and across generations" was launched. What are the dimensions of the project and how is it funded?  

Population Europe: On July 11th, we observe World Population Day – a time to reflect on population trends and related issues. As the President of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS) and as the new President of Population Europe’s Council of Advisors, what would you say are the biggest challenges for future demographic research activities in Europe?  

Population Europe: Most European countries are facing low birth rates. What role do fathers play in this? Katharina Micheel: One crucial development is the increasing labour market participation of women. That puts into question the traditional gender arrangements. And it’s linked to the questions of gender equality and gender equity. The role of fathers has changed from solely a supporter to a co-nurturer, yet there is ambivalence in most countries because, nevertheless, traditional attitudes are still common.

Population Europe: In most European countries women’s life expectancy is still higher than men’s. Even though this sounds nice, what are the main associated risks?  

62, 67 or 74 years ­- which age is right for retirement? This question causes heated debate across Europe and at times furious protest. But even if these somewhat extreme reactions strike us as people resisting the inevitable adjustments required of an ageing and shrinking population, the protesters actually have a point. A discussion narrowly focused on rising the retirement age is not the answer to demographic change, because it does not reflect the realities of people’s lives.