Logo

Make a tax-deductible donation to support CEDA's agenda and help accelerate change

Find out more

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 June 20, 2022

Why Australia critically needs a productivity push

In the annual IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook released last week, our overall worst result was in entrepreneurship, where Australia is ranked 61 out of 63 countries. Australia also dropped from number 20 to 41 in terms of workplace productivity. When it comes to Australian business efficacy we rate poorly in terms of remuneration and compensation, international experience, employee training, skilled labour and working hours. It is little wonder, therefore, that our businesses are struggling to access the skills they need, writes CEDA CEO Melinda Cilento.

Read more Opinion article September 30, 2020

The place for co-ops in our economic recovery

Following the announcement of the Federal Government's Modern Manufacturing Strategy, Business Council of Co-Operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) CEO, Melina Morrison, writes that the co-op model can help deliver the innovation and growth that Australia needs by allowing SMEs to more safely scale and invest in research and development. 

Read more Opinion article February 14, 2017

Understanding populism: how leaders can better sell economic reform

As populism and extremism become the new norm, Dr Anika Gauja discusses lessons our leaders can learn from this global shift, and how to utilise this knowledge to forward political and economic agendas.

Read more