Abstract
People in western countries seem to be tending to live longer and the ageing fringe of these populations is becoming important in relation to the younger groups. This feature is often described as a problem for societies and as a challenge, or even a threat, for Welfare States. In this paper, we wonder whether this new feature of western populations is a problem, and if so, for which reasons it is. In this paper, we are going to define the problems that the ageing characteristic of western countries populations creates, focusing on the economic branch of this 'social problem' and on the changes in terms of values and of social position that are linked to it. The ageing aspect of western countries populations is often described as an important internal challenge Welfare States must face. Moreover, the changing values that are linked to this new feature of modern societies also affect Welfare States.
