Population, Ageing and Retirement
Western Australia’s population is projected to more than double to over 5 million by 2050. Most of this growth is projected to occur in Perth, with the regional areas recording a smaller growth. The population is also ageing, with median ages rising and life expectancies increasing. The Baby Boomer cohort – born during the post World War II fertility boom – is streaming into retirement and entering old age. This research theme explores how changing population dynamics will affect all aspects of life in the WA and Australian community. These include the impacts of population growth and ageing on economic and social participation, quality of life, health and care needs, housing needs, financial security, and mobility within and across states and territories. Projects and publications under this theme produce evidence-based analysis to inform policies that aim to harness the opportunities and address the challenges brought on by changing demographic trends in WA and nationally.
Related Projects
See All
Strategies to enhance housing security for WA’s older renters
Inside the black box: Intra-household resource allocations of older couples
Missing girls: Understanding the causes
Inquiry into Housing Policies, Labour Force Participation and Economic Growth
Australian Demographic Trends and their Implications for Housing Subsidies
Population Ageing, Participation and Retirement
Related Publications
See All
As the widespread use of autonomous vehicles (AVs) becomes increasingly likely, an important consideration is the extent to which individuals prefer either private ownership or shared use modes. Both modes are currently evolving, each with distinct but overlapping challenges. Understanding... Read article
This article exploits plausibly exogenous changes in macroeconomic conditions across home countries over time and panel individual data to examine the causal impact of home countries’ macroeconomic conditions on immigrants’ well-being in Australia. We present new and robust evidence that... Read article
More people are reaching retirement age without owning a home, and the number of older people residing in the private rental market is increasing. Fixed incomes, short leases, a lack of affordable housing options and limited capacity to modify a... Read article
This paper provides an analysis of spatial and temporal patterns in housing supply in Australia over the period 2005–06 to 2015–16. It shows that by international standards, per capita housing supply is very strong in Australia. However, housing supply is... Read article
The aim of this study was to assess Australians’ attitudes to the advent of autonomous vehicles and the extent of their reported unprompted and prompted awareness of the potential health-related benefits arising from this technological advancement. The results indicate an... Read article
We measure gender gaps in long-term earnings and retirement wealth over the 15-year period from 2001 to 2015. Our analysis of data from the Housing, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey generates new estimates of the effects of education... Read article
The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre team acknowledges the Wadjuk Nyungar people as the traditional owners of the land on which the Centre is situated.