Overview
As America looks to recover from covid-19, one segment of the economy could underpin the country’s long-term growth trajectory: 50-plus people. Even as society adapts to people living longer, attitudes and stereotypes have not kept pace – too often, older people are portrayed as drains on our society and the economy. Yet according to the Longevity Economy Outlook study, by AARP with research and analysis from The Economist Intelligence Unit, the economic contribution of Americans age 50-plus tops $8.3 trillion in 2018—a figure that is larger than Japan’s GDP—and is projected to exceed $26 trillion by 2050. In particular, the 50-plus population is driving a disproportionately high share of consumer spending: in 2018, for every dollar of consumption spending in America, 56 cents were from this group.
The growth of the 50-plus age demographic is transforming markets and sparking new ideas across every sector of the economy. Yet, people age 50 and older remain significantly misrepresented in the rollout of new products, services, and marketing campaigns. Some firms have recognised the importance of this community, and have embraced inclusive, universal principles in product design and services to appeal to it. They view their customers on a multi-generational basis, meeting diverse needs at various life stages and adapting to evolving tastes. Everyone must work together to innovate and invest in new approaches to learning, earning, living, and connecting with each other as people live longer lives.
As companies pursue sustainable business models amid and beyond the covid-19 pandemic, how can they transform their offerings to be more inclusive for customers at various life stages, and tap into the opportunities that the 50-plus economy presents? What innovative solutions can be offered to this important demographic?
Why attend
Join AARP and The Economist Events for Age of innovation: The 50-plus economy as an engine of growth, which will analyse consumer trends and projections for the 50-plus economy, bringing together a thought-provoking panel of experts to discuss the opportunities and realities facing an aging society. The session will showcase companies that are adapting their products, services and distribution strategies with this important segment in mind. The session will also share key highlights from the Longevity Economy Outlook study, and ask the panel to share actionable insights for industry leaders across sectors, and to discuss a new vision for ageing.
Key topics include:
- Key trends and insights about the 50-plus demographic for businesses of all sectors
- How to ensure inclusive design of products and services for people of all ages – and tackling misperceptions of the 50-plus demographic in doing so
- How to tap into the 50-plus economy, offering innovative solutions for a much-overlooked demographic
Speakers
- All
Professor Anant Agarwal
Founder and chief executive officer, edX
Professor Anant Agarwal
Founder and chief executive officer, edX
Professor Anant Agarwal is the founder and chief executive officer of edX and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. Anant won the Maurice Wilkes prize for computer architecture, and MIT's Smullin and Jamieson prizes for teaching. He is also the 2016 recipient of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize for Higher Education, which recognized his work in advancing the MOOC movement. As a chief executive officer of a global nonprofit, Anant is helping to transform traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location and access. edX is reimagining the possibilities of education, providing the highest-quality, stackable learning experiences including the groundbreaking MicroMasters® programs. Additionally, he is a recipient of the Padma Shri award from the President of India and was named the Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate in 2018.
Jean Accius
SVP Global Thought Leadership, AARP
Jean Accius
SVP Global Thought Leadership, AARP
Dr Jean Accius is the senior vice president of global thought leadership at AARP, and leads a team in positioning AARP as a global thought leader by identifying emerging trends around the world, cultivating and elevating new ideas, forging global strategic alliances that become the foundation for collaboration and sparking bold solutions to change systems and improve the lives of the global population as it ages. He is a passionate champion and catalyst for changing how the world sees and values aging. He is an internationally recognized thought leader on aging, longevity, equity, health systems transformation and modernizing the delivery and financing of long-term care. Dr Accius has been quoted by or appeared in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, TIME Magazine, USA Today, Reuters, and Politico. Dr Accius is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors and has held a variety of board and advisory positions including Justice in Aging, the American Society on Aging, Leadership Maryland and the American University School of Public Affairs Board of Advisors.
Kyle Rand
Co-founder and CEO, Rendever
Kyle Rand
Co-founder and CEO, Rendever
Kyle is the co-founder of Rendever, which uses new virtual reality technology to build communities and increase resident engagement through positive shared experience. Kyle grew up volunteering in a senior living community, and went on to study cognitive decline in the aging population. His neuroscience research was largely focused on the link between functional structural changes in the brain that happen as you age, and the associated deficits in economic-based decision making. He also studied neuroprosthetics and has been published for his work linking reward-based behavior coding with motor area activation in monkeys. Since joining the tech world, he has led the development of a niche research-based social network, created a crowdfunding platform for ecological conservation, and architected a grassroots initiative focused on increasing healthcare access in populations-in-need, which was eventually recognized by the Obama administration. After having a negative personal experience moving his grandmother into a senior living community, he realized the severe impact of social isolation on seniors, and cofounded Rendever.
Sandra Sims-Williams
Chief Diversity Officer, Nielsen
Sandra Sims-Williams
Chief Diversity Officer, Nielsen
Sandra Sims-Williams is the senior vice-president of diversity and inclusion for Nielsen, leading its DE&I strategy and team for the newly independent, publicly traded media business. Sandra is a transformational leader with 30 years of experience linking diversity and inclusion strategies with corporate initiatives. Prior to joining Nielsen, she was Publicis Groupe’s chief diversity officer and has a deep background in diverse leadership development, retention programming, analytics and effectiveness, supplier diversity, multicultural talent acquisition, and corporate initiatives that drive diversity and inclusion cross-functionally. In 2019, she made the Black Enterprise Top Corporate Executives list, The Inaugural Champion, Adweek & ADCOLOR, and SAVOY Magazine's Most Influential Women in Corporate America list. Sandra is also a member of The Advertising Industry's Diversity Steering Committee and serves on the boards of New York Women in Communication, the Advertising Club of New York and ColorComm.
Claire Casey
Global head of policy, Economist Intelligence Unit
Claire Casey
Global head of policy, Economist Intelligence Unit
Sponsors
AARP
With nearly 38 million members, AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. AARP works to strengthen communities and promote issues that matter most to families including quality healthcare, financial security and personal fulfillment.