It is true that when people advance into their golden years, they require more help and attention. For that reason, a significant number of people hold the opinion that the government should provide financial assistance to the elderly. However, I tend to agree with those who argue that workers should be saving a portion of their income to have a nest egg in their retirement.
To begin with, a culture of saving rather than depending on the government may foster the overall economic development of a country. In other words, if people were to accumulate their own savings for their pension age, it would lessen the financial burden on the government. As a result, the government would be able to release more funds for more productive purposes, such as the development of infrastructure, industries, hospitals, and so on, which may expedite the overall progression of a country.
In addition to economic factors, putting money aside has more personal benefits. Since savings-oriented people are not dependent on the state for their living expenses, this may instil a sense of self-respect and pride in them. On the other hand, those who are reliant on financial assistance very often face a negative societal stigma, as many people consider them to be inferior and unworthy members of society. Hence, to live a life with dignity and pride, taking responsibility for funding one’s retirement is a better option from an individual perspective.
In contrast, the provision of monetary outlays for retirees has proven unfeasible in many countries. Since in many nations, the number of senior citizens is on the rise, in the long run, governments are likely to struggle to sustain the cost of providing for the elderly. The early signs of this have been seen in many countries that were forced to raise the retirement age, including my home country where men can now retire at the age of 62 instead of 58. Therefore, in the foreseeable future, these kinds of support may become completely unsustainable.
In conclusion, the provision of state monetary support may undoubtedly lessen the concern of retirees to some extent. However, considering the issue of sustainability of this provision, it is better to opt for individual savings from the very beginning of working life, for the benefit of both individual and national development.