Because human life is more valuable than the economy?

Other than us as individuals wanting to live long and see our family grow or to explore the wonders of the world. Why does one person living long have more value over someone having a good quality life?

People living longer is generally a proxy for people being healthier. A healthier society is more prosperous since people can work more and produce better output.

Sure but you end up with wealth hoarding as older people live into retirement and by the time they pass on their kids are entering retirement.

Then tax them or otherwise increase the distribution of wealth. "Kill them since it's easier" is such an odd way to look at things to me.

Not sure where I said I said kill them or implied killing them.

I don't see how these are mutually exclusive.

Society exists for the betterment of its constituents. Life expectancy is considered an important success metric because people generally like living long. While you're right that old people are less productive, the health of the economy is not the goal of a society. The economy is a tool we use to better our lives. We should never be beholden to the tool itself. The moment the economy stops making our lives better, it's time to make some changes.

Living longer generally has a negative affect on the economy so the quality of life in some ways is worse for the younger generations. So it seems it’s only useful as a metric of short term success of a country.

All those laborers working, enabling greater return to capital, are doing so based on a social contract. One that doesn't send them to the glue factory the second they no longer are capable laborers.

That can't be true, the free market is efficient and if killing off your parents increases that efficiency then it obviously should be done because nothing else matters.

/S

Besides what others have said, it's important not to confuse life expectancy and longevity. Because life expectancy averages lifespans, life expectancy declines very rapidly when a lot of young people are dying. Note that the article mentions drug overdose as a major driver - which probably affects the young more than the old.

Life expectancy and longevity goes hand in hand. Resolving issues hindering life expectancy only serves to extend longevity.

Getting infant mortality down would have a big impact on the life expectancy in the US but has nothing to do with longevity.

So I'm guessing you'd be willing to sacrifice years of your life or sacrifice yourself now in the name of the global economy? Or just that it's okay as long as it's others?

It's insane to put the economy as a priority over life. Your thinking is ass backwards.

> Living longer is generally bad for the economy.

How?

We can save the economy if we all just die earlier and stop having kids. It's us that's the problem. Do this and the stock market will go back up!

I feel compelled to echo that life is worth living without a booming economy.

You’re here because that’s true and your ancestors agreed.

How does reducing the size of the consumer pool help the economy? More consumers helps the economy.

Retired generation tend to hoard their wealth to live off, not spend it, by the time they pass their kids are retiring, the wealth never goes back into the economy as investments or purchases. Or of course you end up with an aged population that depends on taxes to survive.