In this publication, Dr. Andrew J. Scott, a London Business School professor who has spoken to the What’s neXT?! community, explains that due to advancements in nutrition, education, medicine, and more, people are not just getting older, but aging slower.
With many in society still unable to distinguish between chronological age (how many years since you were born) and biological age (how fit and healthy you are), the aging society narrative does not take into account whether people are aging better. You may have experienced this; the feeling that you’re in your prime and not ready to throw in the towel, yet those around you only see you for your age. Consequently, this outdated viewpoint focuses only on the negatives of an aging society and ignores the possible gains from a longevity agenda that supports longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
When we start to see increasing support for older workers, such as policies that promote longer and more productive lives and greater diversity in government support programs, a clearer longevity agenda will begin to appear.
All in all, the mission is to design policies to boost productivity over a longer life, where people of all ages will benefit from this longevity effect.
