People should work until the end of their healthy lifespan, and not end their work until they are paralyzed into bed – a controversial point made by economist Yao Yudong at a recent Global Wealth Management Forum. He argues that extending the number of years people working can bring multiple benefits, including longer life expectancy, improved well-being, reduced pension burden, and economic development.
Yao Yudong supports his view for several reasons. First of all, he believes that working longer helps people maintain a positive attitude towards life. Through work, people can continue to be socially connected, communicate with others, learn new Xi, and participate in social activities. This active lifestyle can slow down the decline of physical and cognitive abilities, leading to a longer lifespan. Studies have shown that maintaining positive social relationships and participating in social activities can reduce morbidity and improve quality of life.
Secondly, Yao Yudong believes that extending the working life can reduce the burden of old-age care and promote economic development at the same time.
With the aging of the population, social welfare expenditures such as pensions and medical security are increasing. Extending the number of years of work can increase an individual's income and savings, reducing the pressure on social welfare spending. At the same time, extending the working life can also maintain a high labor force participation rate and promote stable economic development. Economists believe that extending the number of years of work can increase the country's labor productivity and produce positive economic benefits.
Although the views put forward by economists such as Yao Yudong have some theoretical basis, not everyone agrees with this view. Many netizens expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to this view, believing that it was insulting and depriving the rights of the elderly. They believe that work is not the only way of life for the elderly, and that people should also have the right to choose when to retire and how to spend their old age.
China's current retirement policy stipulates that women retire at the age of 55 and men retire at the age of 60.
This policy is in line with the expectations and needs of the majority. However, the survey results show that most people want to retire earlier and enjoy their old age. They believe that retirement allows them to spend more time with their families, travel, pursue their hobbies, and enjoy life.
In addition to Yao Yudong, other economists such as Xu Xianchun, Dong Fan, Chen Hao, Zhao Yanjing, etc., also put forward similar views. However, these views have sparked a lot of controversy and discussion in society. Many people believe that extending the number of years of work may increase work stress and physical burden, negatively affecting the physical and mental health of the elderly.
Retirement is an important stage of life and should be decided based on an individual's health status, financial situation, family situation, and personal wishes. ** Society should provide a variety of options and support, so that everyone can plan their retirement life according to their own needs and aspirations.
Balancing the rights and interests of individuals and the needs of society is a complex issue that requires all parties to work together to find the most appropriate solution.
However, although Yao's views have sparked strong opposition from netizens, in fact, his views are based on a series of scientific studies and economic data.
First of all, Yao Yudong's idea of working to the end of a healthy life span is to prolong people's lifespan. According to several studies, long-term engagement in meaningful work can improve a person's mental and physical health and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. And the physical and mental state of retirement tends to decline rapidly, leading many older people to face health problems and psychological stress. Therefore, continuing to work can keep the elderly in an active lifestyle, delay the aging process, and improve healthy lifespan.
Second, Yao Yudong's view can improve the well-being of the elderly. Work is a part of people's lives, and it gives them a sense of achievement, self-esteem, and social networking, which are all important factors in maintaining a person's well-being and quality of life.
Research has found that retired seniors often feel idle, lack a sense of existence and self-worth, and therefore experience problems such as loneliness and depression. In contrast, continuing to work allows older people to stay socially connected, socially active, and happy.
In addition, Yao Yudong's view can also reduce the burden of old-age care and promote economic development. With the increasing problem of population aging, the pressure on pensions and the cost of pension services are increasing. Delaying retirement can help solve this problem, reducing the pressure on pension payments, while also reducing the demand for pension services. In addition, extending the working life can also increase the labor force participation rate, increase the labor force of the population, and promote sustainable economic development.
While Yao's argument can bring some benefits to some extent, it is important to note that this does not mean that all older people should be forced to work until the end of their healthy life.