Maine’s Aging Economy and the Economy of Aging

This paper explores the demographics of aging in Maine and some of the important relationships between these trends and the economy. Growth in the Maine’s population of those 65 and older will substantially exceed growth in total population in Maine from 2000 to 2030. Furthermore, Maine’s elderly population will not occur evenly. These changes will alter perceptions about aging in American society, and there will no longer be a bright line between work and retirement, as the nature of work has changed, retirement savings may be inadequate, and family structure has changed. With increasing populations of older individuals in concentrated rural areas, transportation issues will increase, and state and local fiscal policies will be made even more complex