The system of attention to the dependence in Spain: Evaluation and comparison with other European countries
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Abstract
Europe faces important challenges: population is ageing and life expectancy is increasing. As the Paper on Demographic Changes points out, baby-boomers are ageing now and this will considerably increase the number of older people. In this context, the gradual implementation of the National Dependency System developed by the law 39/2006 which will take place up to 2015 implies a double challenge for the Spanish economy: for one part, to implement a totally new system, and, for the other part, to finance and manage this system under a growing-demand scenario. The aim of this paper is to concentrate on the second aspect, and, in particular, to examine the effects that the provision of the services linked to the dependency system will have on the public expenditure of the Spanish economy in the years to come, taking as a basis the experience of various European countries.