Sustaining prosperity while growing old

The global population is becoming older due mainly to fewer children being born, reinforced by people living much longer. China is now home to the largest number of elderly people and their size is increasing faster than in most other aging countries, with the fastest increase happening among the oldest old (aged 80 or above).

Compared to 115 years for France, it will take just 25 years for China's population aged 60 years or above to double from one in 10 persons in 2000 to one in five persons in 2025. China already has about 240 million people aged 60 or above. These trends have heightened worries about China becoming old before becoming rich especially with the onset of its shrinking labor force in 2011.

Can aging also create new opportunities?