The Silver Economy Measuring and Steering Growth in Ageing Societies

Aging is reshaping economies, labor markets, and social systems worldwide. Far from a demographic crisis, longevity can be a source of innovation and inclusive growth when policy, technology, and institutions adapt to longer lives. This chapter examines the Silver Economy—the network of economic and social activities driven by and for older adults—and its potential as a foundation for sustainable development. Drawing on global policy frameworks such as the United Nations' Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the European Union's Active Ageing Index, it analyzes how demographic change influences employment, innovation, and welfare systems. The chapter advocates an integrated approach that treats aging as a structural driver of transformation, requiring coordinated governance and investment in human capital. It concludes that the Silver Economy offers both an economic opportunity and a social imperative for the twenty-first century.