November 2024

Australia. Why some people deserve an age pension before others: new research

However, the ageing population presents long-term fiscal challenges to the sustainability of social welfare systems of advanced economies such as Australia and especially the cost of providing age pensions. The Australian government’s Intergenerational Report 2023 suggests the number of people aged 65 and over will more than double over the next 40 years. But economic growth is forecast to be slower than the previous four decades because of lower population growth and reduced workforce participation due to ageing. In response, the federal government...

Forever young: where older workers keep on working

By Steven G. Allen & Ting Wang This paper examines inter-industry patterns of the employment of older workers over the last 20 years to understand where employment opportunities have grown the most. The underlying premise is that firms strategically align their age mix depending on production function and labor cost parameters. The industries that had the largest increases in the percentage of older workers were those that had the broadest pension coverage and those that made the greatest use of high-tech capital. There...

October 2024

Is the US headed for a retirement crisis?

Is the United States speeding towards a retirement crisis or not? Well, Wayne Park, CEO of John Hancock Retirement, won't go that far, but definitely believes the “check engine light is on.” Park’s concern is based on the firm’s recently released financial resiliency and longevity report which showed half the respondents feeling like they're falling behind in retirement saving, while another 40 percent said their financial situation was fair or poor. Meanwhile, the survey said the average respondent thinks they're going to be working...

Can’t wait to give up work? Why some people are not the retiring type

Ageing populations require a shake up of our pension systems, but fair and effective changes require an understanding of older workers. Across Europe, raising pension ages is a necessary - yet incendiary - conversation. As life expectancies increase, so does the ratio of pensioners to workers, ultimately resulting in mounting pressure on state budgets. In countries where retirement reforms have sparked controversy, one argument continues to resurface. Raising the state pension age, many argue, can't be a 'one-size fits-all' approach. Due to disparities...

From ageing to active living — working through old age in EU

Ausra Linkuviene, a retired typesetting designer from Lithuania, represents a growing trend in Europe, where retirement no longer means the end of a working career. Years after retiring, 67-year-old Austra has continued working. Supported by both her pension and salary, she can travel every year. Admired by her younger colleagues, she sees no reason to leave her profession, she told Xinhua. Her story reflects a larger demographic shift across Europe. By 2050, nearly 30 percent of the European Union (EU) population...

Deep Dive: China raises retirement ages as birth rate drops and ageing population grows

Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what’s happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. News: China raises retirement age as it battles economic slump Country’s top legislative body announced the move as a way to deal with its ageing population of workers More people are set to retire than to enter the workforce, putting China’s pension...

China: Gradual increase to statutory retirement age

Employer Action Code: Act The government has approved legislation to increase the social security statutory retirement age by three to five years gradually over a 15-year period starting January 1, 2025. Key details Over the 15-year period starting January 1, 2025, normal retirement age (NRA) will gradually increase: From age 60 to 63 for men From age 55 to 58 for women in salaried positions From age 50 to 55 for women factory workers These are the first increases to NRA since the...

September 2024

China’s retirement age reforms not enough to fix pension headache

China's move to raise retirement ages is a starting point to plug gaping pension deficits and bolster a shrinking workforce but more pain lies ahead as the economy slows, making further reforms urgent, say economists and demographers. Aging populations are a global phenomenon, but the issue is particularly stark in China due to the legacy of its one-child-policy, which was in place for three decades and has exacerbated its demographic challenges. China’s number of births dropped to 9 million last year and the...

Why China’s decision to extend the retirement age will not address fairness and sustainability issues

For many working Chinese, particularly those born in the 1980s and 1990s, Beijing’s decision to raise the retirement age by three years brings a sense of loss and betrayal. It means they have to work longer and pay more to get less from a major social contract. An internet meme that went viral reflected Chinese millennials’ frustration over the government’s flip-flop in birth and pension policies: “When I was born they said there were too many; when I gave birth...

China. Lawmakers review plan to raise retirement age in fast-greying China

China's top legislative body this week assessed an official plan to delay the country's retirement age, among the world's lowest, taking a key step towards changing decades-old labour laws and easing economic pressures stemming from a shrinking workforce. The ruling Communist Party said in July that China would gradually raise the country's retirement age. The retirement age is now 60 for men, about six years below that in most developed economies, while for women in white-collar work it is 55, and 50...