The spectre of an ageing population has led to the government’s exhortation to repair the national economy to avert ‘intergenerational inequity’, writes Associate Professor Elizabeth Brooke, from Swinburne University's Centre for Social Impact.

This report examines the Australian superannuation default fund landscape following the introduction of MySuper. The two main products are outlined – single strategy ‘balanced’ and lifecycle – including their underlying asset allocation and glide path strategies.

Australians pay far too much for superannuation. They pay about $20 billion in fees and expenses in total. Fund customers pay $1300 on average, every year. These payments to the superannuation industry can and should be reduced by at least half, saving Australians at least $10 billion a year. It is the largest single opportunity...

This paper proposes that Australia abolishes tax concessions for superannuation and create a universal (non-means-tested) age pension. Summary As Australia’s population ages, government policies that assist retirement will become even more essential. Superannuation tax concessions and the age pension are the two key government policies that assist the ageing, but they are becoming increasingly expensive...

As population ageing means more people will require care and support, this research brief looks at demand and funding of formal and informal care.