About the book
A demographic futurist explains the coming Super Age—when there will be more people older than sixty-five than those under the age of eighteen—and explores what it could mean for our collective future.
Societies all over the world are getting older, the result of the fact that we are living longer and having fewer children. At some point in the near future, much of the developed world will have at least twenty percent of their national populations over the age of sixty-five. Bradley Schurman calls this the Super Age. Today, Italy, Japan, and Germany have already reached the Super Age, and another ten countries will have gone over the tipping point in 2021. Thirty-five countries will be part of this club by the end of the decade. This seismic shift in the world population can portend a period of tremendous growth—or leave swaths of us behind.
Schurman explains how changing demographics will affect government and business and touch all of our lives. Fewer people working and paying income taxes, due to outdated employment and retirement practices, could mean less money feeding popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare—with greater numbers relying on them. The forced retirement or redundancy of older workers could impact business by creating a shortage of workers, which would likely drive wages up and result in inflation. Corporations, too, must rethink marketing strategies—older consumers are already purchasing the majority of new cars, and they are a growing and vitally important market for health technologies and housing. Architects and designers must re-create homes and communities that are more inclusive of people of all ages and abilities.
If we aren’t prepared for the changes to come, Schurman warns, we face economic stagnation, increased isolation of at-risk populations, and accelerated decline of rural communities. Instead, we can plan now to harness the benefits of the Super Age: extended and healthier lives, more generational cooperation at work and home, and new markets and products to explore. The choice is ours to make.
This is not a book about aging—it’s a book about the future. Schurman provides the essential frameworks for thriving in our new demographic order:
- Economic Impact: Explore how a shrinking workforce could challenge everything from Social Security and Medicare to consumer inflation, and why it demands new thinking.
- The Longevity Market: Learn why older consumers are already the primary buyers of new cars and health tech, and how businesses must adapt to serve this vital demographic.
- Age-Inclusive Workplaces: Discover why multi-generational cooperation is key to avoiding labor shortages and harnessing the experience of an older workforce for a competitive edge.
- Ageism as a Drag on Growth: Understand the hidden costs of ageism and how outd
Editions of Super Age
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780063048751
- EBook
- ISBN 9780063048775
Read an Excerpt
A demographic futurist explains the coming Super Age—when there will be more people older than sixty-five than those under the age of eighteen—and explores what it could mean for our collective future.
Societies all over the world are getting older, the result of the fact that we are living longer and having fewer children. At some point in the near future, much of the developed world will have at least twenty percent of their national populations over the age of sixty-five. Bradley Schurman calls this the Super Age. Today, Italy, Japan, and Germany have already reached the Super Age, and another ten countries will have gone over the tipping point in 2021. Thirty-five countries will be part of this club by the end of the decade. This seismic shift in the world population can portend a period of tremendous growth—or leave swaths of us behind.
Schurman explains how changing demographics will affect government and business and touch all of our lives. Fewer people working and paying income taxes, due to outdated employment and retirement practices, could mean less money feeding popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare—with greater numbers relying on them. The forced retirement or redundancy of older workers could impact business by creating a shortage of workers, which would likely drive wages up and result in inflation. Corporations, too, must rethink marketing strategies—older consumers are already purchasing the majority of new cars, and they are a growing and vitally important market for health technologies and housing. Architects and designers must re-create homes and communities that are more inclusive of people of all ages and abilities.
If we aren’t prepared for the changes to come, Schurman warns, we face economic stagnation, increased isolation of at-risk populations, and accelerated decline of rural communities. Instead, we can plan now to harness the benefits of the Super Age: extended and healthier lives, more generational cooperation at work and home, and new markets and products to explore. The choice is ours to make.
This is not a book about aging—it’s a book about the future. Schurman provides the essential frameworks for thriving in our new demographic order:
- Economic Impact: Explore how a shrinking workforce could challenge everything from Social Security and Medicare to consumer inflation, and why it demands new thinking.
- The Longevity Market: Learn why older consumers are already the primary buyers of new cars and health tech, and how businesses must adapt to serve this vital demographic.
- Age-Inclusive Workplaces: Discover why multi-generational cooperation is key to avoiding labor shortages and harnessing the experience of an older workforce for a competitive edge.
- Ageism as a Drag on Growth: Understand the hidden costs of ageism and how outd
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Super Age about?
A demographic futurist explains the coming Super Age—when there will be more people older than sixty-five than those under the age of eighteen—and explores what it could mean for our collective future.
Societies all over the world are getting older, the result of the fact that we are living longer and having fewer children. At some point in the near future, much of the developed world will have at least twenty percent of their national populations over the age of sixty-five. Bradley Schurman calls this the Super Age. Today, Italy, Japan, and Germany have already reached the Super Age, and another ten countries will have gone over the tipping point in 2021. Thirty-five countries will be part of this club by the end of the decade. This seismic shift in the world population can portend a period of tremendous growth—or leave swaths of us behind.
Schurman explains how changing demographics will affect government and business and touch all of our lives. Fewer people working and paying income taxes, due to outdated employment and retirement practices, could mean less money feeding popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare—with greater numbers relying on them. The forced retirement or redundancy of older workers could impact business by creating a shortage of workers, which would likely drive wages up and result in inflation. Corporations, too, must rethink marketing strategies—older consumers are already purchasing the majority of new cars, and they are a growing and vitally important market for health technologies and housing. Architects and designers must re-create homes and communities that are more inclusive of people of all ages and abilities.
If we aren’t prepared for the changes to come, Schurman warns, we face economic stagnation, increased isolation of at-risk populations, and accelerated decline of rural communities. Instead, we can plan now to harness the benefits of the Super Age: extended and healthier lives, more generational cooperation at work and home, and new markets and products to explore. The choice is ours to make.
This is not a book about aging—it’s a book about the future. Schurman provides the essential frameworks for thriving in our new demographic order:
- Economic Impact: Explore how a shrinking workforce could challenge everything from Social Security and Medicare to consumer inflation, and why it demands new thinking.
- The Longevity Market: Learn why older consumers are already the primary buyers of new cars and health tech, and how businesses must adapt to serve this vital demographic.
- Age-Inclusive Workplaces: Discover why multi-generational cooperation is key to avoiding labor shortages and harnessing the experience of an older workforce for a competitive edge.
- Ageism as a Drag on Growth: Understand the hidden costs of ageism and how outd
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Super Age?
Society and Social Sciences > Sociology and anthropology > Sociology > Population and demography
Where can I read a sample of Super Age?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780063048751
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Super Age?
Bradley Schurman
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Super Age is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780063048751) and ebook(ISBN 9780063048775)
Where can I buy Super Age online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Super Age from below
Where can I buy Super Age?