Moody's Warns Aging Populations Will Strain Global Finances Before Headcounts Drop
Credit rating agency Moody's warns that aging populations in the West and emerging markets will strain public finances and slow growth long before actual population declines begin. While Europe's population peaks in 2029 and the U.S. in 2080, fiscal pressures from rising dependency ratios are already mounting. AI and productivity gains can only partially offset the demand-side drag of fewer consumers, leaving governments to manage higher pension and healthcare costs with limited policy levers.