The study of demographics is not theory because (aside from catastrophic events that might change the population numbers) the numbers are known. Many marketing and economic majors have studied demographics to try and determine how it will impact our future and how to best take advantage of the aging population. A really good study of the demographic reality and aging population was presented by Peter G. Peterson in his book Grey Dawn. Based on his book, I suspect we could use many younger immigrants because on page 52 in his book he makes this observation: “The U.S. working population will begin to decline in the year 2019.”
In the year 2000, when Peterson wrote his book, the percentage of people in Florida over the age of 65 was 19%. Here are the years that some major countries will reach that same ratio:
- 2003 – Italy
- 2006 – Japan
- 2006 – Germany
- 2016 – UK
- 2016 – France
- 2021 – Canada
- 2023 – US
Have you ever been to Florida? If you have you can begin to realize how different the world will be.
“Though the most rapid growth of the elderly population has yet to happen, the steadily rising profile of the elder consumer is already visible to most retail shoppers–with hair dye outselling baby formula, with diapers for all age groups stocked in drugstores, and with senior-cruise brochures replacing the ads for kids’ summer camps.”
“Just as boomers once overwhelmed the schools as children, the job market as they came of age, and the housing markets as mature adults, so too are they on track to overwhelm America’s retirement systems as they enter elderhood.”
However, as to retirement, taxes, illegal immigration, health care costs, etc. we will have a solution for those issues by default.
In fact, the “income tax system” has exactly the same demographic problems as social security but the solution is in the wings (FairTax). It will just be a matter of some time before the solution becomes very clear to enough people.
Also, if you want to watch an interesting video about money = debt and the banking system go to http://moneyasdebt.net/.
One of the major opportunities will be with the Health Care Industry (the next Trillion Dollar Industry). Read The Wellness Revolution by Paul Zane Pilzer (economist). That’s why the Nutrition Supplement industry is so good!
| Generations | Years | Births (Millions) |
| Silent Generation | 1925 – 1944 | 52.5 |
| Baby Boom Generation | 1945 – 1964 | 78.2 |
| Generation X | 1965 – 1984 | 69.5 |
| Generation Y (Est.) | 1985 – 2010 | 100 |
The above generations table comes from the book written by Kenneth Gronbach: The Age Curve. He points out vividly how we should understand the specific timing of each (20 year period) generation. For example, he predicts a decline in assisted living due primarily to the small size of the “Silent Generation.” Also, he predicts that the Boomers won’t go to assisted living without a strong battle. Admittedly, we must understand where we are on the demographics curve from a marketing perspective (e.g. what year the SUV market peaked). Obviously, how we interpret the “numbers” makes a difference.
Know your market and try to be in front of the curve and not on the back side (declining side) of the demographic curve!
