The New Future of Old Age

The average human’s life expectancy has stretched to seven decades. But seven decades of life was not so unusual for some pre-modern groups as well. “It turns out that settlement, especially urban living, was toxic,” writes Peter Gallagher for Policy Magazine. “The rapid recovery in life expectancy after the mid-nineteenth century may be the greatest humanitarian achievement of the industrial era.” The greatest strides are now being made in developing nations, as fertility rates are falling and interest and investment in longevity is on the rise. Environmental conditions, genetics and a willingness to regulate one’s eating and exercise contribute to a longer lifespan. From a policy perspective, not many regulations are needed, Gallagher concludes. However, countries with long-living citizens should encourage healthy lifestyles that include exercise, incentives for workforce participation, and adequate savings rates to ensure self-funding among the elderly. – YaleGlobal