The Economic, Fiscal, and Financial Implications of an Aging Society

The 45th President's ability to achieve campaign promises will be circumscribed by demographics. An aging U.S. profile will shrink the size of the labor force, a critical component to ensuring economic growth. Public programs serving older adults-Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid-will account for 73.8 percent of the growth in federal spending over the next decade. As such spending consumes a growing portion of public budgets, policy makers will find it tough to garner or maintain public support for investment programs that could increase productivity.