In his article “Longer lives mean profound social change,” Martin Wolf raises important points and questions. While the focus tends to be on the costs associated with an aging society, little attention is given to the contributions made by those in their second lives. I have seen this firsthand in my own experience of retiring and starting a new life.
After retiring, I dedicated time to exercise and improve my physical health. This has not only prevented me from becoming a burden on the healthcare system, but it has also allowed me to stay mentally engaged by taking up new hobbies like art. Like many others in their second lives, I am still far from the end of the road. Despite our age, we are making significant contributions to society economically by supporting businesses in various sectors such as hospitality and retail.
As major customers for many establishments, our spending helps support numerous jobs and contributes significantly to the economy. However, there is a lack of statistics and discussion on the economic impact of second-lifers like myself and my wife. It would be beneficial for publications like the Financial Times to delve deeper into this topic and shed light on the important role that individuals in their second lives play in society.
