Public policies and old age identity

Issues of self, identity, and other facets of subjectivity are generally examined within the context of interpersonal interaction and competency against a broader backdrop of production, reproduction, and consumption. Changes over time are thought to reflect transformations in personal involvements and an actor's circumstances. Yet economics, the polity, and entitlements make a difference in how life is compiled and affect so fundamental a component of selfhood as sense of identity. The goal of this discussion is to provide a more inclusive template linking sense of self, identity, and public policies as meaning-making parameters affecting older actors. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.