ABSTRACT
Political economy is ultimately concerned with the social relations of production rather than with individuals or technology as primary causal forces in society. Political economy analyses of aging have commonly addressed ways in which the needs of capital accumulation affect the lives of older people, such as pushing them out of the labor force as part of regulation to maximize profits. In general, political economy analyses are most effective in focusing on social power and inequality. The treatment of mental health problems in the elderly, including the delivery of services, financing, and policymaking, remains a problem in our society. An important issue concerns the role of the “Alzheimer’s Enterprise” and its potential for distorting policy and treatment for the mentally ill elderly. Reviews of the gerontological and geriatric literature on aging and mental health rarely examine the political context and content of the issues.
