Main description:

Europe currently is the oldest continent in the world and its population is still ageing. This demographic shift affects society, economy, and welfare states. Scholars from various disciplines and the public noted this development and wonder what effects it may have, but lack adequate information. They call for explanations that are concise and easily accessible. The book at hand fills this lacuna. It introduces readers to the most important developments, theories, concepts, and discussions in ageing studies - always keeping an eye on the current situation in Europe. Each chapter adopts the perspective of a different discipline, e.g. public health, sociology, economics, or technology. To make the explanations easy to understand, the book includes learning tools such as learning objectives, multiple choice questions, and a glossary.

Contents:

Foreword: Alan Walker.- 1: Introduction: Older People under the Magnifying Glass: Kathrin Komp and Marja Aartsen.- 2: Bio- and Health Gerontology: How Ageing Changes our Bodies: Joel Ankri and Bernard Cassou.- 3: Gerontopsychology: Ageing is all in your Head: Mike Martin, Nathan Theill and Vera Schumacher.- 4: Social Gerontology: Older People and Everybody Else: Christina Victor.- 5: Political Gerontology: Population Ageing and the State of the State: Kathrin Komp.- 6: Economic Gerontology: Older People as Consumers and Workers: Jolanta Perek-Bialas and Joop J. Schippers.- 7 Gero-Technology: Old Age in the Electronic Jungle: Harald Kunemund and Nele Tanschus.- 8: Cultural Gerontology: Valuing Older People: Ricca Edmondson.- 9: Conclusion: The Future of Greying Europe: Marja Aartsen and Kathrin Komp.- Glossary.- Annex: Answers to the Quizzes.