Description
Book SynopsisWarren Sanderson and Sergei Scherbov argue for a new way to measure individual and population aging. Instead of counting how many years we’ve lived, we should think about our “prospective age”—the number of years we expect to have left. Their pioneering model can generate better demographic estimates, which inform better policy choices.
Trade ReviewProspective Longevity is Sanderson and Scherbov’s magnum opus. Its pages speak to all of us, no matter how old we are or where we live in the world, through its provocative new way of defining what it means to age. -- Steven Petrow, contributing columnist for the
Washington PostWhat if the world’s population is not only aging, but aging better?
Prospective Longevity raises the exciting prospect that ‘aging’ could be good news for the economy and beyond. In order to yield long-term dividends, we must explore the methods and insights contained in this pathbreaking book. -- Andrew Scott, London Business School
Demographers define age in a chronological way, examining the number of years lived since a person’s date of birth. But that does not tell us how old a person really is or how much longer they will live. Through its introduction of prospective age, Sanderson and Scherbov’s magnificent book will change the way we conceptualize aging. -- Dudley L. Poston, Texas A&M University
Redefining the concept of ‘old age’ is of fundamental importance. Doing so affects the arrangement of social institutions and the economic system, and has implications for theoretical and practical policymaking. Sanderson and Scherbov’s innovative new book is an inspiration for anyone with an eye toward the future. -- Xizhe Peng, Fudan University, China
In this magisterial volume, Sanderson and Scherbov systematically set out their case for a radical revision of not only how we measure population aging, but how we even conceptualize it. Rigorous, yet engaging and accessible, this book is required reading for anyone interested in one of the greatest societal transformations of our time. -- Stuart Gietel-Basten, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
