Innovation-in-Europes-Cities_Bloomberg-Mayors-Challenge1

An Urban AgeGrowing EU voter apathy: voter turnout in national elections 1990-2014100%90%Denmark80%70%60%50%40%30%EuropeanAverageGreeceSlovakiaSwitzerlandEU ParliamentLithuania20%10%0%1990199419982002200620102014Lack of trustAusterity measures have led to further job lossesbut have also forced citizens to take on moreresponsibility within their communities. This shiftin dependency and loss of certainty has had a deepeffect on many European urban dwellers who havehad to learn to rely less on government and more ontheir own resources to survive the tough economiccircumstances.This has in turn led to an increased sense ofmistrust in government institutions – at all levelsacross the EU – leading to low voter turn-outs,wide-spread disillusionment with conventionalpolitical parties and the growth of extremist groupsthat are effective in vocalising feelings of angerand vulnerability. However, local governmentsable to bridge this trust gap may be able to partnerwith citizens to solve many of the local challengesaffecting European cities.Ageing and welfareMost noticeably, Europeans are ageing. By 2030, athird of the population will be over 60 – a situationthat is mirrored in Asian countries like Japan andSouth Korea. London and Istanbul, perhaps themost global of European cities, stand out for thehigh numbers of young people who make up thelocal population. Fertility rates are generally belowthe replacement rate, and an insufficient supplyof migrant labour means the dependency ratioacross Europe is on the rise. This places enormousstrain on funding benefits, especially in countriesthat have established and expensive national healthand welfare systems, including state pensions andfree health care. Reduced tax revenues and longerlife expectancies contribute to a highly volatilesituation across European cities. As low fertilityresults in population shrinkage in many Europeancountries, migration becomes the main source ofpopulation growth.HealthLoneliness and social disconnection, traditionallyassociated only with old age, are on the rise. Highunemployment has particularly affected youth,negatively impacting mental and physical healthand increasing the burden on welfare budgetsand the provision of health services. Another byproductof inactivity and reduced income – andpoor levels of medical prevention – is the increasein obesity and diabetes amongst European urbancitizens, fuelled by poor diet and a lack of exercise.While obesity increases the risk of diseases of thecirculatory system, (the most common cause ofdeath in the EU), diabetes has become the fourthmost devastating killer disease. Roughly one in tenEuropeans lives with diabetes and the Continenthas the highest prevalence in the world of Type-1diabetes in children, suggesting that alreadyburdenedhealthcare budgets will be furtherstretched in the future.10