An index of intergenerational justice: main concepts and preliminary evidence from the Age-It Research Program

Aging reshapes the balance between younger and older generations within the population. These demographic shifts have significant implications for economic and environmental resource allocations and the transformation of social and political status and individual rights. To explore these dynamics, we present findings from Spoke 7 (Cultural and Political Dimensions of Ageing Societies) of the Age-It Research Program, which has developed a novel Index of Intergenerational Justice.

The Index of Intergenerational Justice, applied to a broad sample of European countries, captures three key dimensions of justice: distributive fairness, social (status and relational) equality, and political equality. We focus on differences across age groups, rather than across cohorts, due to well-documented challenges in direct cohort comparisons. The distributive fairness dimension covers economics (relative poverty, unemployment, permanent contracts, wages), health (unmet medical needs), and the environment (environmental risk exposure). The social equality dimension captures social isolation (measured through leisure activities, internet access, social contacts, and close relationships), discrimination, and mental well-being. Finally, the political equality dimension considers political perceptions, political engagement, and political representation.

Preliminary findings reveal substantial differences across age groups in the distributive fairness dimension. A cluster of countries appears to favor older adults, while another favors younger adults. By contrast, in the social equality dimension, nearly all countries tend to favor young adults.

The Intergenerational Justice Index provides a valuable tool for assessing fairness across age groups. By highlighting disparities, it can inform and support public policies aimed at fostering more equitable relationships between generations.