The Population Dimension in the Intergenerational Reports

Abstract

The demographic assumptions and outcomes in the three successive Intergenerational Reports have differed enormously. This has brought a degree of derision upon the production of these reports in the serious press. Furthermore, the Intergenerational Reports' projections of labour force participation rates have proven to be very wrong in the short term. The fourth Intergenerational Report will need to address this credibility gap. This article analyses the reasons that the Intergenerational Reports' projections have been wide of the mark and makes suggestions about future approaches. © 2012 The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.