Reflections on Developing the Silver Economy to Address Population Aging

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the accelerated aging of the population and the upgrading of elderly consumption demand from subsistence-oriented to development-oriented, the silver economy has become a strategic fulcrum for alleviating the pressure of population aging and enhancing people's well-being. However, China's silver industry is currently facing core predicaments such as a structural lag in the supply of products and services, a weak system of scientific and technological innovation and financial support, and a severe shortage of professional service personnel. Based on an analysis of the causes of the above problems and drawing on international practical experience in smart elderly care, product and service supply, and elderly care finance, this paper puts forward four countermeasures: first, optimize the supply structure through policy guidance and standard construction to promote the accurate matching of products and services and balanced regional development; second, build a high-quality and compound team of elderly care service talents through vocational education, salary incentives and the integration of industry and education; third, accelerate the R&D and application of aging-adapted technologies, improve the multi-level elderly care financial system, and promote the in-depth integration of "technology + finance + elderly care" to stimulate the endogenous driving force of the market; fourth, improve the full-chain market governance system, advance the aging-adapted transformation of consumption scenarios and the construction of brand credit, and reshape consumer confidence among the elderly. The paper aims to provide a useful reference for addressing the challenges of population aging.