This episode of the London Futurists Podcast features Professor Andrew J. Scott, an economist from the London Business School, discussing the profound economic and societal implications of longer lifespans. He explores how technological advancements not only enhance productivity but also reshape assumptions about human lives, relationships, and financial planning. As populations live longer, with many reaching 100 or beyond, societies must rethink their economic strategies, from pensions to healthcare systems, to accommodate these changes.

Key Points:

Economist Andrew Scott explains the profound economic and societal impacts of longer lifespans, advocating for a shift toward flexible, multi-stage lives. He highlights the immense value of focusing on healthy ageing and the need for governments to adapt policies to support longer, healthier lives. Scott’s insights pave the way for rethinking longevity and preparing for a more sustainable future.

• Economic Impacts of Longevity: Andrew Scott, economist and author of The 100-Year Life, explores how technological and societal changes driven by increasing lifespans disrupt traditional economic models, calling for a shift in financial, health, and career planning.
• The Multi-Stage Life Model: Scott advocates moving from a three-stage life (education, work, retirement) to a flexible, multi-stage life, where careers are interspersed with breaks for education, caregiving, and leisure to adapt to longer lifespans.
• The Economics of Ageing Well: Highlighting models such as "Dorian Gray" (better health, same lifespan) and "Peter Pan" (slower ageing and better health), Scott emphasizes the immense economic and societal benefits of focusing on healthy ageing.
• Barriers to Change: The podcast discusses cultural and political resistance to ageing-related reforms, with Scott noting that governments need to adapt policies to keep people employable and healthy as they age.
• Value of Healthy Longevity: Research co-authored by Scott quantifies the societal value of ageing better, estimating benefits worth trillions of dollars, underscoring the need for investment in healthy ageing and longevity science.
• Future Outlook – Evergreen Society: Scott introduces his upcoming book Evergreen, which focuses on creating societies that age well, emphasizing the importance of evolving cultural, economic, and health systems to match longer lifespans.