Youth & Seniors: An Unfair Social Contract?

Between demographic aging and changes in the labor market, the balances that historically structured solidarity between generations appear to be weakening. The French social model is in fact based on a contract: the working population finances the inactive, particularly retirees, in exchange for future protection. However, in a context marked by increasingly precarious entry into working life and relatively secure career paths at the end of working life, this pact appears more and more unbalanced.

On the one hand, younger generations face late and unstable entry into the labor market, difficulty accessing housing, and an accumulation of economic risks. On the other hand, older people benefit, on average, from higher living standards, greater wealth, and social protection schemes that have been strengthened over time.

In this context, how can the principle of intergenerational solidarity be preserved and adapted so that it remains fair and sustainable for all generations? What public policies could be implemented or strengthened to concretely improve the living conditions of young people?