title: The generation contract, pension schemes, birth control and economic growth: A European model for the third world?
abstract: The paper presents an analysis of the relationship between the generation contract, pension schemes, fertility decline and the process of economic growth. It is shown that there is a close connection between the reproductive behavior of a population and social security in old age i.e. the introduction and effects of retirement insurances. The proof of this assumption is given by a historical analysis of the developed and a systematic analysis of the developing countries. The paper postulates that the intention to create a higher level of economic growth in developing countries will become effective if a change of the family-bound generation contract is brought about. A modern economy is not compatible with the traditional system of extended families. This thesis includes the assumption that a statutory pension scheme is not an economic burden but the very starting point of a social machine which triggers economic growth.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Interdisciplinary Research on Aging Bremen University, Bremen 33, P.O. Box 330 440, D-2800, Federal Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diessenbacher