September 2025

Has Population Aging Led to Strategic Shifts in Enterprises?

By Hanteng Li, Yun Qin & Yuhang Wang  This paper uses Chinese listed companies from 2009 to 2023 as a sample to systematically examine the impact pathways and mechanisms through which population aging influences corporate strategic transformation. The study finds a significant positive relationship between population aging and corporate strategic transformation, and this conclusion remains robust under multiple sensitivity tests. Further analysis of moderating effects indicates that a firm’s innovation capability plays an important moderating role in the relationship between...

Mortality and the Provision of Retirement Income

By Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development This report analyses the development of mortality assumptions to build mortality tables to better protect retirement income provision. Mortality assumptions are necessary to ensure the sustainability of lifetime incomes. It explores considerations and traditional approaches for developing mortality tables, as well as provides an international overview of longevity trends and drivers over the last several decades, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also details the standard mortality tables developed across...

August 2025

Rejuvenating Economics: Subjective Age’s Influence on Work-Life Balance

By Andre Briviba, Valentin Schnellmann & Bruno S. Frey Chronological age is a key indicator in economics, determining policy decisions such as the retirement age and the minimum voting age. The concept of subjective age, extensively studied by gerontologists and psychologists, may be particularly relevant to economic decision-making. Using panel data from German adults aged 40–65 and individual fixed-effects estimations, we investigate the effect of subjective age on work and life satisfaction. Furthermore, we estimate the impact of subjective age...

The Path to 2075 — The Positive Story of Global Aging (Daly/Njie/Allen)

By Jan Hatzius, Joseph Briggs, Kevin Daly, Johan Allen, Sarah Dong & Megan Peters The global population is aging, driven by a combination of increased longevity and declining fertility. This phenomenon is most pronounced in developed (DM) economies, where the ‘working-age ratio’ (ages 15-64) has already decreased from 67% in 2000 to 63%, and is projected to fall to 57% by 2075. In emerging economies, the 15-64 share is close to a peak (66%) and is expected to decline to...

Extending Healthspans in an Aging World

By Stephen P. Utkus & Olivia S. Mitchell Extensions in human longevity are prompting a growing interest in maximizing healthspan, or the number of years of life unencumbered by the chronic diseases of old age. This chapter reviews recent research on healthy life extension, including several measures and determinants of longer healthspans. We also provide an overview of recent efforts by medical and business enterprises to enhance longevity and healthspan, followed by a discussion of policy and workplace options to...

July 2025

Population Aging and Financial Stability: An Empirical Analysis

By Hun Jang This study empirically examines the impact of population aging on financial stability. Constructing an unbalanced panel of 7,148 banks across 38 OECD countries over 27 years, we find that deeper demographic aging undermines banks’ capital adequacy and lowers their Z-Scores, thereby exerting a negative effect on financial stability. These adverse effects arise because slower growth, higher interest-expense burdens, and compressed net interest margins erode profitability, prompting banks to loosen risk standards in an effort to offset mounting...

Global Aging and Growth: Is There a Silver Dividend?

By Donghyun Park & Kwanho Shin Despite concerns about the economic impact of population aging, this study highlights the potential for a 'silver dividend' as longer lifespans extend working lives. We show that the effects of aging on growth are highly nonlinear and concentrated in more advanced, older economies. Labor shortages are often offset by rising labor force participation, particularly in countries with higher life expectancy, stronger human capital, and greater trade openness. Larger governments, measured by consumption, appear to...

June 2025

LGBTQ+ Aging and Retirement Issues: A Critical Review of Current Studies and Knowledge Gaps

By Julie Duda, Bri Bloxsom & Manshreya Grover This paper presents a detailed review of select studies on the experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ older adults, particularly in the context of aging and retirement. Through a systematic analysis of fourteen studies, this review aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the issues encountered by this population, highlighting key themes including discrimination, healthcare access, social support, resilience, end-of-life preparation, and mental health. There exists a broad body of scholarly work that has shed light on...

Iridescent Life Course: LGBTQ Aging Research and Blueprint for the Future – A Systematic Review

By Karen I. Fredriksen Goldsen, Sarah Jen & Anna Muraco  LGBTQ* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer) older adults are demographically diverse and growing populations. In an earlier 25-year review of the literature on sexual orientation and aging, we identified four waves of research that addressed dispelling negative stereotypes, psychosocial adjustment to aging, identity development, and social and community-based support in the lives of LGBTQ older adults.  The current review was designed to develop an evidence base for the field...

LGBT Older Adults: Chosen Family and Caregiving

By Nancy J. Knauer In the United States, informal eldercare is principally the responsibility of younger relatives. Adult children perform the majority of eldercare and nonrelatives perform only fourteen percent of care. Caregiving in the LGBT community follows a very different pattern that reflects the importance of “chosen family” in the lives of LGBT older adults. Instead of relying on relatives, LGBT older adults largely care for each other. Relatives provide only eleven percent of all eldercare. This article explores the...