The Rapidly Aging World: Implications For Marketing

We raise a number of concerns as to how rapidly the world is ageing, and not just the developed world. Whereas there is much coverage of the forthcoming budget problems facing the developed world in terms of dealing with commitments to the elderly through programmes such as Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid in the USA, there is less awareness that much of the developing world is ageing at a more rapid rate and is, in fact, less prepared for handling its ageing population. The article’s purpose is not only to increase awareness of the coming problems, but also to point out specific issues that marketers need to devote much attention.