Written for economists, educators, business leaders, policy makers, health care professionals, and general readers, this report from the National Resource Council's Committee on the Long-Run Macroeconomic Effects of the Aging US Population offers a foundation for social and political debates about population aging and its macroeconomic impacts and policies related to public entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security. Rather than looking at these entitlements in depth or offering specific policy recommendations, it draws on academic research to describe broader and more fundamental factors related to population aging, to clarify policy issues and suggest strategies of use in designing responses. It begins with a framework for the issue, then discusses demographic trends that affect population aging and factors that affect its impact, including changes in the prevalence and severity of functional impairments and their relationship to socioeconomic variables and disability; patterns of labor force participation and retirement; the relationship to technological innovation, productivity, and long-run rates of return on investments; and patterns of saving and wealth in the US. The final chapter examines the impact on federal and state budgets. The report also offers recommendations for further research in demographic and health measurement and projections, capacity to work and longer working life, changes in consumption and saving, and modeling efforts and data needs. No index is provided. Annotation ⓒ2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Introduction -- Overview -- Demographic Trends -- Health and Disability in the Working-Age and Elderly Populations -- Labor Force Participation and Retirement -- Aging, Productivity, and Innovation -- Saving and Retirement Security -- Capital Markets and Rates of Return -- The Outlook for Fiscal Policy -- Research Recommendations -- References -- Appendixes -- Appendix A: Population and Related Projections Made by the Committee -- Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members.