The Ageing of Australia: Fiscal Sustainability, Intergenerational Equity and Inter-temporal Fiscal Balance

Title
The Ageing of Australia: Fiscal Sustainability, Intergenerational Equity and Inter-temporal Fiscal Balance
Publication Date
2004
Author(s)
Coombs, Greg
Dollery, Brian Edward
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Australian Social Policy Association
Place of publication
Australia
UNE publication id
une:3611
Abstract
Australian public policy makers are presently confronted with significant demographic changes that will profoundly affect the formulation of rational economic and social policy over the long term. This paper seeks to outline the potential impact of this demographic change and place it in historical perspective. The challenges posed by an ageing population for fiscal policy are explored and it is stressed that policy inertia will invite severe costs in future. It is argued that an appropriate policy stance should be developed in the context of a framework for inter-temporal fiscal balance not only to focus on long-run fiscal sustainability, but also to include considerations of intergenerational equity.
Link
Citation
Australian Journal of Social Issues, 39(4), p. 459-470
ISSN
1839-4655
0157-6321
Start page
459
End page
470

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink