In the first round of discussion, we focus on Actors and their roles, highlighting different groups of actors all crucial when dealing with demographic change. On our four tables, there are four groups of actors in focus, whose scope of action we will discuss along the following central questions:
Table 1: Local politics
What can we expect from local politics? What are their responsibilities? How are local policy responses to demographic change organized? Are there any “model approaches”?
Table 2: Families and Generations
Is the public expecting too much from families? To what extent can they contribute? What happens when the family is defunct or does not exist? In what contexts can we observe generational conflicts, and how can they be avoided?
Table 3: Business
Is there a senior citizens economy? What are the most important goods in and issues for this market (public transport, car industry, tourism industry, medical technological sector, home automation)? How can technology/technical progress made more user-friendly for the elderly?
Table 4: Civic society and NGOs
How can we encourage social and civic commitment among the elderly? How can the various tasks linked with the demographic change distributed between the state, local communities, and families? What are “best practice“ examples from Japan and Germany?