We need to rethink old age, with Martin Wolf

Global life expectancy is surging, with more individuals living into their 80s and beyond due to improved nutrition and public health advancements like clean water and antibiotics. This demographic shift renders the traditional life model of education, work, and retirement obsolete. To accommodate a longer lifespan, society must transition toward a more flexible structure involving lifelong learning, periodic career changes, and later retirement ages. Employers need to abandon outdated perceptions of older workers, instead valuing the experience and potential for continued engagement. While the "Dorian Gray" model of remaining healthy and active until a relatively quick end offers an ideal vision of aging, the risk of prolonged, debilitating illness remains a significant concern. Ultimately, adapting to this new reality requires both institutional support for retraining and a cultural shift toward viewing extended life as an opportunity for varied, productive experiences.