Logo

Explore our Climate and Energy Hub

Content Hub

Join CEDA Support us
Opinion article

Intergenerational struggle: Confronting Australia’s demographic headwinds

Older, bigger, slower growing, more diverse. Living standards at risk of going backwards. These were the key takeaways from the latest Federal Intergenerational Report (IGR), writes Dr Liz Allen. The intergenerational bargain or contract, which implicitly suggests that the country handed to each subsequent generation is the same, if not better, than the socioeconomic conditions enjoyed previously, has been eroded. Increasing or maintaining living standards can no longer be guaranteed. Australia’s dumb luck has run out.

Back to all opinion articles

30/08/2023

Liz Allen
CEDA Members contribute to our collective impact by engaging in conversations that are crucial to achieving long-term prosperity for all Australians. Find out more about becoming a member or getting involved in our work today.
About the author
LA

Liz Allen

See all articles
Dr Liz Allen is a demographer and senior lecturer at ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, where she researches population dynamics and teaches research methods. She is a member of ANU Council and an advocate for inclusive and accessible higher education. Liz was named among the ABC Top 5 Humanities and Social Sciences academics in Australia in 2018, and a woman to watch by the Australian Financial Review in 2023. She is a regular media commentator for all things demography. Her book, The Future of Us (2020), is a call to action to build a stronger Australia through fairness and equality.

Our Related Articles

Opinion article May 21, 2024

A budget hamstrung by political realities

The 2024-25 Federal Budget reflects the challenging task of balancing fiscal responsibility, curbing inflationary pressures and meeting spending demands to accelerate the energy transition, address geopolitical priorities and promote a fairer society. The challenges are exacerbated by the growing complexities of the global landscape and the decline in bipartisan cooperation in policy development. Regrettably, the Budget's effectiveness in tackling these challenges is constrained. It embodies a compromise reflecting the limits of what is politically feasible, writes UQ Professor Flavio Menezes.

Read more Opinion article December 3, 2020

WA has escaped the worst – it is time to build for the future

CEDA Senior Economist Cassandra Winzar says that Western Australia’s economy has escaped the worst impacts of COVID-19 and the state should now focus on building the economic foundations that will see it thrive into the future.    
 

Read more Opinion article December 10, 2014

Growing angst for short-term fixes: Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin

As the year draws to a close, CEDA's latest survey reveals the Federal Government needs to undertake a major rethink on innovation, R&D and its broad approach to education with angst growing in the community about the consequences for our long-term economic future if current policy directions are too focused on short-term fixes.

Read more