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Redefining Retirement: Is Our Ageing Population an Untapped Asset? (Professor Sarah Harper)

Society
Global
Started August 27, 2026

This week, James Marriott talks to Sarah Harper, Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford and one of the world's leading experts on demographic change. She challenges the increasingly common narrative that ageing populations represent an inevitable economic and social burden, arguing instead that longer lives should be seen as an achievement that requires us to rethink the way society is organised. As birth rates fall and life expectancy increases, governments across the world fac...

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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
An ageing population should be viewed as a valuable resource that can contribute to society through experience and mentorship.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Economic models should account for the financial strain that an ageing population may place on social services and pensions.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Policies designed to integrate older adults into the workforce should prioritize their health and well-being.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Older adults should have genuine choice in how they spend their later years: some will want to work, others to retire, and others to combine both.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Communities should actively seek ways to engage older citizens in volunteer and civic roles that benefit society.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Workplace policies should adapt to accommodate the diverse needs of an ageing workforce to maximize their contributions.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Ageing populations will create unbearable fiscal burdens on healthcare and social care systems regardless of how productively older people work.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Extending working lives will reduce job opportunities for younger people entering the labour market.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Governments should restructure pension systems to reflect increased life expectancy rather than maintain payouts designed for shorter lifespans.
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CLAIM Posted by admin Aug 27, 2026
Governments should implement policies that encourage older adults to participate in the workforce longer.
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