The Elderly Bias of the Spanish Welfare State (1958–2012).

This article examines the long-term evolution of the elderly bias in the Spanish welfare state from 1958 to 2012 using National Transfer Accounts (NTA), a methodology that measures how resources are produced, consumed, and transferred across age groups through families, markets, and government. The study finds that Spanish social policies have consistently favored the elderly over children, with public transfers covering a significantly larger share of the elderly's consumption deficits compared to those of children. While early welfare efforts were limited and family policies underdeveloped, especially after the Franco dictatorship, the expansion of pension and health benefits has reinforced this elderly bias. Demographic changes, notably population aging and the retirement of the baby boom generation, have intensified the economic challenge posed by this bias, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of Spain's welfare system.