Geodemographic and life course perspectives of population ageing in Australia: informing the policy response to population ageing

Abstract

This study examines the geodemographic and life course perspectives of population ageing in Australia. The ageing of populations around the globe is one of the most significant demographic changes underway, with far reaching implications for the design of policy settings. In Australia, population ageing is intensifying as the large baby boomer cohort born between 1946 and 1966 enters their aged years. At the same time the policy response to population ageing is incomplete, with concerns continuing about the adequacy of the supply of services, retirement incomes and the economic and fiscal consequences of a growing aged cohort. Many studies focus on specific policy questions, regions of interest or birth cohorts and therefore give an incomplete understanding of the aged population.

The aim of this study is to better understand the aged and ageing processes in Australia so that the policy response is better informed. I organise my contributions around three areas. Firstly, I propose four principles to guide future directions in the policy response to population ageing in Australia. Secondly, I develop a multidimensional approach to examine the aged and ageing processes in Australia. Thirdly, I undertake the foundation analysis of the Australian aged population using this multidimensional approach. The geodemographic and life course analysis is structured around analysis of the size; age structure; characteristics; age-transitions¬¬ to better understand the threshold age demarcating the commencement of the aged years; mortality conditions such as the length of life and inequality in the length of life; and life course markers of ageing such as working life and disability-free life expectancies. Far from being a homogenous group, the Australian aged population is diverse. The aged population is growing in all regions, but growth is uneven. There are differences too in the characteristics of the aged. Using life course perspectives, I challenge the use of age 65 to signal the commencement of the aged years as it is both disconnected from demographic conditions including working-life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy.

To assist the policy response, I outline four directions to guide the future response to population ageing: increased policy differentiation between the early-aged and late-aged years; a comprehensive approach to longevity risk; increased responsiveness to variation within the aged population and ageing processes; and, a better distribution of the benefits of increased life span across the life course.