But is there a significant difference between how much support very young (pre-adult) people and how much support elderly (post-retirement) people need? At some point during rapid population growth there were a lot of the former, and we managed OK. Now there's a lot of the latter, and not so many of the former.
As it is, many of the costs for elderly people seem to be about medical inventions to (arguably artificially) prolong life. I'd suspect that will become increasingly expensive, to the point that expectations around how much it's reasonable to spend on such treatment may change. As it is, COVID caused quite a significant increase in mortality among elderly populations - it was undoubtedly pretty awful for those directly involved, but society as a whole seems to have adjusted since.
> But is there a significant difference between how much support very young (pre-adult) people and how much support elderly (post-retirement) people need?
That's what I'm asking - both are very expensive. But we see supporting pre-adults as "investment" (education etc.), whereas it's hard to see it that way for the elderly - the selfish view would be that it's more like an insurance policy to give you confidence that society will still consider it important to care for the elderly when you join their ranks.
Young people are cared for in large groups via schools. They have no wealth or political power.
Old people can be very expensive, can still vote, and most will have a economic power for this specific generation.
In the past when you were a working couple with kids, you hoisted your kids into your grandparents to help raise and there was no opportunity cost. There’s no converse here.
Good luck passing legislation to reduce care for the old while they’re the largest chunk of the population.
As it is, many of the costs for elderly people seem to be about medical inventions to (arguably artificially) prolong life. I'd suspect that will become increasingly expensive, to the point that expectations around how much it's reasonable to spend on such treatment may change. As it is, COVID caused quite a significant increase in mortality among elderly populations - it was undoubtedly pretty awful for those directly involved, but society as a whole seems to have adjusted since.