One of the most important economic trends that will determine our future is demographic change and the shift in the age distribution of the global population. Falling birth rates and rising life expectancy mean that, across the world, the average age of society is increasing—as is the proportion of older people. I am delighted to see the International Monetary Fund, in their semi-annual World Economic Outlook publication, analyse this issue. But rather than focus on the usual doom and gloom, they spend time examining how we can adapt to longer lives and achieve better individual, social, and economic outcomes.
We focus a lot on how we can adapt and adjust to climate change and AI, but tend to assume there is nothing that can be done around an ageing population—which is quite clearly not true, given the IMF’s analysis. And of course, this is a trend and a policy imperative that I stress in my book The Longevity Imperative.
Click here to read the IMF chapter.
Click here to listen to conversation with IMF Team.
