The Aging Population in the United States and Its Effect on Our Economy
Managerial Economics ORG 342
The Aging Population in the United States and its Effect on our Economy
July 20, 2010
Aging Population 1
The population in the United States is aging at an unprecedented pace. For the first time in history, seventy percent of everyone who has ever lived is alive today (Isidro, 2009). The aging population and their imminent retirement will place an even greater strain on the country’s financial resources. The baby boomers; people born between 1946 and 1964 have influenced our economy by their sheer number. As this age group matures and enters their retirement years, an economic shift is inevitable. Not only will changes be seen in government programs such as social security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but consumer spending will also see a dramatic transformation. Over the next thirty years, the United States will see the largest demographic change in history. 77 million baby boomers will cease to work and pay payroll taxes (Fehr, Jokisch, 2005). The drain on government social programs will be severe as the baby boomers retire and collect benefits.
The gradual aging of the population will bring demographic changes not seen since the end of World War II. The increase in the number of people over age 65 strongly influences social, economical, medical, and personal situations. This phenomenon of aging will place extraordinary pressures on the economic resources necessary to sustain the population’s standard of living. In the
Aging Population 2
United States, individuals over the age of 65 constituted 4 percent of the American population in the year 1900. In the year 1972, 10 percent of the population was over the age of 65. Estimates for the year 2050 are as high as 22 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). In the next 10 to 15 years, the first of the baby boomers will begin to retire. This will be a large generational shift from the young to the old. The United States population boom following World War II,
The Aging Population in the United States and its Effect on our Economy
July 20, 2010
Aging Population 1
The population in the United States is aging at an unprecedented pace. For the first time in history, seventy percent of everyone who has ever lived is alive today (Isidro, 2009). The aging population and their imminent retirement will place an even greater strain on the country’s financial resources. The baby boomers; people born between 1946 and 1964 have influenced our economy by their sheer number. As this age group matures and enters their retirement years, an economic shift is inevitable. Not only will changes be seen in government programs such as social security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but consumer spending will also see a dramatic transformation. Over the next thirty years, the United States will see the largest demographic change in history. 77 million baby boomers will cease to work and pay payroll taxes (Fehr, Jokisch, 2005). The drain on government social programs will be severe as the baby boomers retire and collect benefits.
The gradual aging of the population will bring demographic changes not seen since the end of World War II. The increase in the number of people over age 65 strongly influences social, economical, medical, and personal situations. This phenomenon of aging will place extraordinary pressures on the economic resources necessary to sustain the population’s standard of living. In the
Aging Population 2
United States, individuals over the age of 65 constituted 4 percent of the American population in the year 1900. In the year 1972, 10 percent of the population was over the age of 65. Estimates for the year 2050 are as high as 22 percent (U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). In the next 10 to 15 years, the first of the baby boomers will begin to retire. This will be a large generational shift from the young to the old. The United States population boom following World War II,
References: Booming Business, Forever Trends, (August 2007) retrieved June 30, 2010 from www.trendwatching.com/trends/boomingbusiness.htm Brock, Jennifer, The Aging of America, (May, 2010) retrieved June 28, 2010 from http://www.cba.gsu.edu/magazine/aging.html Dohm, Arlene, Gauging the Labor force effects on retiring baby-boomers, Monthly Labor Review, (July 2000) http://www.monthlylabor review.com/human-resources.html retrieved June 24, 2010. Fehr, Hans and Jokisch, Sabine (February, 2005). Aging, the world economy and the coming generational storm. National Center for Policy Analysis. Retrieved June 23, 2010. www.ncpa.org/pub/st/st273. Isidro, Isabel, M. (June 2009). The aging population and its effect on small business, Power Home Biz, http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol12/aging.htm, retrieved June 24, 2010, U.S. census Bureau, Census 2000 special report, issued December 2004. Weisman, Jonathan, Aging population poses global challenges, Washington Post, (February 2005) , http://www.washingtonpost.com/as2. Retrieved June 28, 2010.