Ageism and neoliberal thought

 Margaret Thatcher in 1981 said, “There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. Economics is the method; the object is to change the soul.”

She was one of the leaders in the development of neoliberalism in the late 1970s–early 1980s, which was shaped by the ideology of individualism rooted in 19th century America. Regan, Thatcher and others provided the foundation for capitalism and the subsequent introduction of neoliberalism into world systems of government. Emphasizing self-reliance, independence, and productivity, individualism negatively characterizes any form of weakness or dependence. Building on the ideology of individualism, neoliberalism contributes to the belief that to have value as an older person in our society, you must continue to be healthy and productive or have enough wealth to maintain complete independence.

And two of the primary tenets of neoliberal ideology – ‘choice’ and ‘personal responsibility – provide the method to maintain independence in old age.

The neoliberal policies put into place by Thatcher and Reagan rapidly became the new orthodoxy of economics that has dominated the political-economic structure of western nations since the mid-1980s. Neoliberalism holds that state involvement in public affairs inflicts a negative impact on the social and economic development of its citizens; and proposed that by reducing the power of the state, power would be transferred to the individual, a supposedly ideal situation embraced by nations with a strong belief in.

According to neoliberal thought, all forms of social solidarity were to be dissolved in favour of individualism, private property, personal responsibility and family values. But although neoliberalism promises less government intervention in public affairs, neoliberal governments in fact remain involved in the administration of public institutions. However, rather than provide government support of public services, an economic market model of the industry has been imposed on public institutions. The purpose of government is thus transformed from a system that protects the interests of its citizens, to one that protects the interests of corporations.

Contrary to neoliberal thought, aging is not simply an individual activity. It takes place within a number of sociopolitical and economic variables, as well as health influences, which may often be beyond the ability of the individual to control. Consequently, research has shown that income and social status, two of the determinants of health, are among the primary factors affecting individual health, with the greater the disparity of income, the greater the differences in health.