Can society beneft from an ageing population? This book explains how current and future generations can beneft from the longevity dividend in the coming decades, using multidisciplinary and international evidence.

How? It depends on the strategic choices of countries. And if they act before the opportunity closes. Growing life expectancy will increase the active years of later life by 25 years or more, resulting in more than a quarter of the population aged over 65 years in many countries. The social, economic and cultural impacts of this phenomenon are massive as the population shifts from a youthful population to one with a large older population. This population structure includes a greater number of adults with knowledge and skills than before that can contribute to society compared to fewer adults living shorter lives. Their contributions can be economically and socially productive by increasing growth, reducing costs as well as advancing social progress. The longevity dividend is realized because the total contributions of societal and economic value increase because there are more citizens contributing during longer lives. The longevity dividend is the windfall gain in economic growth and social progress gained during this once only population shift. Society retains this gain and then continues growth from the peak benefitting future generations. The two ways to increase the dividend are to increase the total contributions that beneft society and to improve the quality of these contributions over the lifetime of citizens through lifelong learning. Increased contributions during the prolonged lives of the entire population result in a productive society. Informed countries will make deliberate choices to gain a greater longevity dividend during this one-time opportunity to beneft from greater life expectancy.