This report examines how aging populations and falling birthrates are straining European pension systems, threatening the traditional social contract. In countries like France and Germany, governments are facing intense political pressure as they weigh unpopular reforms such as raising the retirement age or increasing taxes on higher earners. The shift toward private pension models risks widening the wealth gap between those with stable employment and those in precarious sectors.
Date: December 29, 2025. Source: theguardian.com