Richard Disney sets out what we know about the implications of an aging population for the workings of an advanced economy, and performs the signal service of pulling it all together in one place. Anyone who is interested in any aspect of this area will be able to go first to this book to find out what we know. There is no other comparably comprehensive source.
Stephen Nickell, Institute of Economics and Statistics, Oxford University
Can We Afford to Grow Older? Describes and analyzes the implications of population aging on a range of interrelated issues. Disney provides an interesting combination of technical economic theory and rich institutional detail that will be of interest to a wide audience.
Joseph F. Quinn, Professor of Economics, Boston College
Using the state of the art behavioral models and a wide range of empirical evidence from the UK, the US, and many other countries, Richard Disney carefully and thoroughly assesses the effects of population aging on productivity, social insurance, pensions, labor markets, and savings. Richard Disney's book will be an important reference for scholars, graduate students, and policymakers interested in the rapidly emerging area of the economics of aging.
Alan Gustman, Loren M. Berry Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College; and Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research
Richard Disney's fact-based, yet engaging survey is as broad as the subject, covering issues from pensions to healthcare, and from productivity to saving. Indeed, Richard Disney provides a perspective—his perspective, and the fun from reading his survey stems from Disney's many provocative conclusions that run counter to conventional wisdom and will certainly spark discussion.
Axel Boersch-Supan, Professor of Economics, University of Mannheim
There has been much alarmist discussion about the economic consequences of aging. Disney has produced a balanced and lucid review of economic analysis of aging issues, including considerable new research on pensions, savings, and retirement in Britain.
John Ermisch, University of Essex, United Kingdom
Can We Afford to Grow Older? is an impressive book which makes a major contribution toward the consolidation of our knowledge and understanding the economic aspects of what appears to be inevitable and probably irreversible demographic change. Covering a wide geographic spectrum across industrialized nations, it will appeal to graduate level study of the economics of aging and will appeal to all economists with a serious interest in this question.
William J. Serow, Director, Center for the Study of Population,and Professor of Economics, Florida State University