21st Century Challenges

Meet the panel

Read the biographies of the panel for 'Britain's population timebomb' event in June 2009. Angela Eagle MP, George Magnus,and Samira Ahmed

EU judges back UK retirement age

The UK's compulsory retirement age of 65 is not in breach of EU legislation, according to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

British compulsory retirement age can stay at 65, says European court

British businesses can continue to force employees to retire at age 65 without breaking EU rules, the European court of justice ruled today.

Britain’s ageing population

A 60 second guide to Britain's ageing population

Britain’s ageing population

Read an introduction to the challenges and benefits of Britain's ageing population.

Quality of life ‘getting worse for older people’

Effects of age discrimination, poverty and neglect worse than in previous years, says charity report

Top 10 places for retirement

With fun and fitness on the agenda, baby boomers are retiring to towns that have it all.

The end of final-salary pensions?

2009 will see a number of large organisations making a fundamental change to their company pensions - cancelling final salary schemes for existing members.

Europe looks towards robots to care for its elderly

By 2050, Europe is expected to have more than 80 million people over the age of 65. Many will be able to live active, independent lives, but some will need more help, and with birth-rates dropping some countries are looking at the options for robotic care.

Why low migration levels threaten the UK’s economic and social health

The falling fertility rate and an ageing population mean too little immigration may turn out to be a bigger problem for the UK than too much migration.

Baby boom Britain won’t retire quietly

For the first time ever, the number of Britons over 65 exceeds those under 16. As the country grows older, the demand is growing for people to be able to work beyond pensionable age. And with advanced years comes growing political power - so the debate about retirement age is set to intensify

Retirement gap years: mum’s gone to India

The “grey gap year” market is booming. Some 200,000 Britons of retirement age embark on long-haul trips every year, spending an average £5,000 per trip.

It’s better to keep older people in work

Forcing people to retire is at odds with a positive vision for our ageing society

Ageing’s silver lining

Singapore's location in Asia, the world's fastest-ageing region, places it in a prime spot to seize the economic and social opportunities that come with ageing

Opinions shift towards longer working hours

A majority of Britons now favour longer working lives if it means a more generous pension in retirement, a significant shift of opinion in the few years since the subject was raised by the Pensions Commission report in 2005

Birth rate highest since 1973

Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman

Birth rate highest since 1973

Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman

The Briton’s who can’t afford to become old

The UK population is getting older and faces deep financial, emotional and health issues - a generation face working into their seventies - or living out their old age in penury.

George Magnus: Britain is growing old and we’re not ready

Baby-boomers pose an economic threat, George Magnus says. Will the Government take heed?

Majority are resigned to working longer after pension collapse

The majority of Britons accept they will be forced to work beyond 65 after watching the value of pensions collapse. Six in ten said they realised they would have to stay in jobs longer to save up more money, a poll shows.

Britain’s population time-bomb? The challenges and opportunities of an ageing society

More will need to work beyond 65 as Wales’ population ages, suggests expert

Wales has to wake up to the challenge of an ageing workforce with more than 40% of the population likely to be aged 50 and over by 2031.

US pensioners mentally ‘10 years younger’ than those in England

Researchers found that Americans had better memories, were quicker witted and were generally smarter than their English counterparts. And the older the pensioner, the greater the difference, claimed researchers.

End of retirement age signal

The government has brought forward by a year a review of the default retirement age of 65.

Baby bust nations will face hard times as populations age

Population growth is beneficial for any economy, but for investors it is better if the median age of that population is low, ie a young economy.

Ageing Britain: number of 85-year-olds will more than double

Official population projections show the number of people aged 85 will rise from 1.3 million last year to 3.3 million by 2033. The Office for National Statistics figures also show that that on current trends, there will be soon be fewer than three people of working age to each pensioner.

Care for elderly a priority say Prime Minister

Improving the care available for the elderly will be Labour's domestic policy "priority" should it win the next election, Gordon Brown has said.