Greece bracing for demographic shift as aging accelerates
Greece is bracing for a demographic shift as aging accelerates. Within 30 years, one third of the population will be over 65, up from 23% today. Experts warn of economic and political consequences, urging proactive policies.
Renewing the workforce is a major challenge, said Robert Shapiro, professor at Columbia University. As older citizens outnumber taxpaying workers, strain on pensions and social services will grow.
According to James Chappel, a senior fellow at Duke’s Aging Center, generations will compete for limited resources.
Political dynamics will also change, with Tim Vlandas, associate professor of comparative social policy in the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at Oxford University, saying that for the first time, a significant share of voters does not rely on wages. Governments may prioritize pensions over education and job growth.
With older voters turning out in higher numbers, electoral incentives shift. Yet, the narrative isn’t just about intergenerational conflict. “In countries like Greece, where we often even have generations living together, relationships don’t seem so conflictual,” noted Platon Tinios, associate professor in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Piraeus.
Experts insist that addressing the crisis requires labor market reforms and immigration policies.
If workforce participation remains low, economic decline is inevitable, warned Vyronas Kotzamanis, demographics professor at Thessaly University.
With only 66% of working-age Greeks employed – compared to 82% in Sweden – boosting workforce participation is essential. Shapiro concluded that migration will play a crucial role.
Iliana Magra for Kathimerini
