If middle age were passive, uncontrolled failure, then it would vary between individuals much more than it does.

BBC: Viewpoint: Just what is middle age?

Rather than advocating high levels of spending and redistribution to compensate the inequality caused by economic failure, it planned to promote education and training and transform the welfare state from a passive safety net to an active 'springboard' of opportunity (Annesley, 2001, 204).

BBC: Unit 4: Political issues