The longevity economy: How people over 50 are driving economic and social value in the US

By 2015, there were more than 1.6 billion people in the world who were part of the 50-plus cohort. By 2050, this number is projected to double to nearly 3.2 billion people. Throughout the world the growth of this age group is having a transformative impact, economically and socially. The US alone is home to 111 million in the 50-plus cohort; they represent a powerful force that is driving economic growth and value. The contributions of this age group are collectively known as the Longevity Economy. It is the sum of all economic activity driven by the needs of Americans aged 50 and older, including both the products and services they purchase directly and the further economic activity this spending generates. The difference it makes is substantial; in 2015, the Longevity Economy fostered $7.6 trillion in economic activity.