Riding the Population Wave

Key Messages:

• Resistance against an increase in the retirement age is often based on myths that do not stand up to scientific evidence.
• The economic burden of population ageing is not a demographic destiny, but depends on the productivity of tomorrow’s workforce.
• Policies should promote information campaigns, life-long learning activities, and measures to support a comprehensive work-education-life balance.

References:

• Börsch-Supan, A. (2012): Active Ageing of the European Baby-Boomers. Presentation on the Population Europe Event: Riding the Population Wave: Policy Options for the Ageing Baby-boomer Generation in Europe, Warsaw, 17 May 2012.
• Börsch-Supan, A., I. Düzgün and M. Weiss (2008): Labor Productivity in an Aging Society. In Broeders, D.; Eijffinger, S. and A. Houben (eds.): Frontiers in Pension Finance and Reform. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
• Börsch-Supan, A. and H. Jürges (2006): Early Retirement, Social Security and Well-Being in Germany. In D. A. Wise (ed.): New Themes in the Economics of Aging. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Chłoń-Domińczak, A. (2012): Developing Human Capital of the Adult Population: the Challenge of Life Long Learning. Presentation on the Population Europe Event: Riding the Population Wave: Policy Options for the Ageing Baby-boomer Generation in Europe, Warsaw, 17 May 2012.
• European Commission (2012): The Ageing Report. Economic and Budgetary Projections for 27 EU Member States (2010-2060). Brussels: European Commission.
• Rohwedder, R. and R. J. Willis (2010): Mental Retirement. RAND Working Paper.
• Skirbekk, V., E. Loichinger and D. Weber (2012): Variation in cognitive functioning as a refined approach to comparing aging across countries. PNAS, 109 (3): 770-774.