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PROGRESS 2050: Toward a prosperous future for all Australians

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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.

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30/08/2023

Liz Allen
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Liz Allen

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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.

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