Demographics, Wealth, and Global Imbalances in the Twenty-First Century
99 Pages Posted: 18 Aug 2021 Last revised: 26 Aug 2021
There are 3 versions of this paper
Demographics, Wealth, and Global Imbalances in the Twenty-First Century
Demographics, Wealth, and Global Imbalances in the Twenty-First Century
Demographics, Wealth, and Global Imbalances in the Twenty-First Century
Date Written: August 25, 2021
Abstract
We use a sufficient statistic approach to quantify the general equilibrium effects of population aging on wealth accumulation, expected asset returns, and global imbalances. Combining population forecasts with household survey data from 25 countries, we measure the compositional effect of aging: how a changing age distribution affects wealth-to-GDP, holding the age profiles of assets and labor income fixed. In a baseline overlapping generations model this statistic, in conjunction with cross-sectional information and two standard macro parameters, pins down general equilibrium outcomes. Since the compositional effect is positive, large, and heterogeneous across countries, our model predicts that population aging will increase wealth-to-GDP ratios, lower asset returns, and widen global imbalances through the twenty-first century. These conclusions extend to a richer model in which bequests, individual savings, and the tax-and-transfer system all respond to demographic change.
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