Consequences of increased longevity for wealth, fertility, and population growth

TL;DR

This paper models how increased longevity impacts fertility, population growth, and wealth distribution, revealing two distinct societal phases and potential for sustainable growth through life extension technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model analyzing the societal and economic effects of life extension, identifying two phases and conditions for sustainable growth.

Findings

Existence of 'mortal' and 'immortal' phases in society.

Potential for sustainable economic growth with life extension.

Revealed equilibrium dynamics between population stability and longevity.

Abstract

We present, solve and numerically simulate a simple model that describes the consequences of increased longevity on fertility rates, population growth and the distribution of wealth in developed societies. We look at the consequences of the repeated use of life extension techniques and show that they represent a novel commodity whose introduction will profoundly influence key aspects of economy and society in general. In particular, we uncover two phases within our simplified model, labeled as 'mortal' and 'immortal'. Within the life extension scenario it is possible to have sustainable economic growth in a population of stable size, as a result of dynamical equilibrium between the two phases.