A Transnational Perspective on Active Ageing
The ageing resident population in Europe seems increasingly involved in civic, social and economic activities, but little is known about the transnational dimension of this population’s practices. Data from a survey on transnational ageing in Switzerland shows that regardless of their migration background, the majority of the participants engage in a wide range of transnational practices. Active ageing – the overall satisfaction and involvement of older adults in social and economic life, seems to thus include the decision to cross national borders for various purposes, organizing and adapting to life beyond the national territory.
Across Europe, views on ageing have changed considerably. The ageing resident population sees itself as more active and is perceived by others as increasingly involved in civic, social and economic activities. However, much less is known about the transnational dimension of this population’s practices. Our research project, which focuses on individuals aged 55 and over, produced a unique quantitative survey on transnational ageing in Switzerland (Transnational Ageing Survey I).
We collected data in 2020 within the framework of the nccr – on the move research project on post-retirement international mobilities, transnational lifestyles, and care configurations. The survey sample consisted of 3,772 individuals aged 55 years or older, who have their legal residence in Switzerland, and it provided us with valuable information on participants’ well-being, living conditions, family configurations, attitudes and transitional practices. The survey shows that a large share of the ageing resident population engages in a wide range of transnational practices.
Active Ageing through the Lens of Transnational Practices
One of the major global demographic changes relates to the fact that people live longer and our societies are challenged to provide age-friendly environments that maintain desirable levels of well-being, satisfaction, and social participation in later life (WHO, 2020). After nearly 20 years of global advocacy for healthy ageing, there is evidence that staying active increases the quality of life, independence and life satisfaction of older adults.
The notion of active ageing goes beyond the health status and emphasizes that the life experiences of ageing members of society are valuable resources for society and for maintaining their well-being, life satisfaction and overall participation in social and economic life (Scabini and Rossi 2018). It stresses ageing individuals’ power to act and their autonomy (Meda et al. 2017). This includes the decision to cross national borders for various purposes, i.e. organizing and adapting to life beyond the national territory (Horn et al. 2013), and cuts across issues related to daily activities, family relationships, provision of informal assistance, and institutional welfare policies (Horn and Schweppe 2017).
Transnational Ageing Practices in Switzerland
Our survey provides a broad picture of the ageing population’s transnational practices that fall into four main types of activities, which take place beyond one’s national territory: daily consumption, caring for relatives and intergenerational solidarity, lifestyle, and cultural and administrative duties.
Transnational practices related to lifestyle and cultural activities are the most prevalent of the four types among individuals aged 55 and older in Switzerland. The vast majority travel abroad at least once a year for vacation (82%) and/or to attend cultural events (30%). About a half (48%) regularly read international newspapers or browse foreign websites in search of information. Daily consumption activities outside of Switzerland are the second most widespread practice: about half of our respondents are used to buying products in other countries on a regular basis. The two main motivations behind these transnational consumption activities are buying cheaper products (reported by almost 40% of respondents regularly shopping abroad) and buying products not available in Switzerland (more than 30%).
The third form of transnational practice is visiting/caring for relatives and intergenerational solidarity activities, such as visiting children/grandchildren abroad (12%). The least frequent category concerns administrative activities outside of Switzerland (9%).
It is worth noting that the transnational dimension of practices among the ageing resident population is not only observed among individuals who have a migration background, as many individuals born in Switzerland also display such practices. However, the most striking differences between the migrant and non-migrant populations concern the two latter forms of practices presented above (care/family and administrative duties). More than 20% of those who have a migrant background travel abroad to visit their children/grandchildren on a regular basis or travel to solve administrative problems, whereas less than 8% of the population without a migrant background engage in such activities.
Constraints and Obstacles to Transnational Practices
Like most behaviors and activities among an ageing population, health issues, economic constraints and the overall ageing process challenge transnational practices. In general, we observe a steady decline in all of the above-mentioned practices among our respondents from the age of 75 onwards. This decline is highly associated with health issues.
Economic constraints obviously also play a role. Retiring implies, in Switzerland as in many other countries, a decline in disposable income, while non-retirees who do not have gainful employment have a lower income than those who do. As such, it is hardly surprising that lifestyle and cultural activities outside of Switzerland are less widespread among individuals who have not reached the retirement age but are not in the labor market and among retirees, compared to non-retired respondents who hold a job.
Eric Crettaz is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland, in Geneva. He is the co-leader of the nccr – on the move research project on post-retirement international mobilities, transnational lifestyles, and care configurations.
Eva Fernández G. G., is a postdoc researcher at the University of Geneva and at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland in Geneva. She works in the nccr – on the move research project on post-retirement international mobilities, transnational lifestyles, and care configurations.
References:
– Federal Statistical Office – FSO (2018). Active ageing. Series: Swiss Statistics, Demos 1, FSO, Neuchâtel.
– Horn, V. and Schweppe, C. (2017). Transnational aging: toward a transnational perspective in old age research, European Journal Ageing 14, 335–339.
– Horn, V., Schweppe, C. & Um, S. (2013). Transnational Aging – A Young Field of Research. Transnational Social Review (3)1, 7–10.
– Meda, S. G., Rossi, Giovanna & Bramanti , D. (2017). A Relational Sociological Approach to Active Ageing: The Role of Intergenerational Relations and Social Generativity. Stan Rzeczy, (1(12), 215–239.
– Scabini, E. & Rossi, G. (2018). Living longer: A resource for the family, an opportunity for society. Champaign, IL: Common Ground Research Networks.
– World Health Organization (2015). World report on ageing and health. World Health Organization.
– World Health Organization. (2020). United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).
