Rating retirement

If you are going to be a pensioner in these Islands off the coast of Europe apparently you get a better deal if you are Irish (ie 26 Counties).

Natixis which compiles a Global Retirement Index places Ireland in the top ten at No 7 in its 2018 index up there with Switzerland and the Nordic countries. The Republic had been at No 14 last year but has shot seven place up the list in contrast the UK which was ranked at 18 and has moved one place to 17:

https://www.im.natixis.com/us/research/2018-global-retirement-index

The Isle of Man is not ranked but most likely UK ratings will be similar to here.

In the Isle of Man there was focus recently on our hyper-aging population and the elderly are often seen as a soft touch for a cash strapped government to milk. Bear in mind means-testing has been introduced for some aspects of elderly care such as sheltered housing yet government have eschewed adopting the same strategy for all social housing. It seems that the elderly are seen as a commodity to be abused and exploited here and that hyper-ageing is a ‘problem’.

Interesting comment therefore from Natixis CEO Jean Raby who says:

“An aging global population may seem to be the greatest challenge. After all, we live in a world of seven billion people where the average life expectancy is 72 years today and may be as much as 100 for those born in the year 2000. But it is critical to recognise that aging demographics are not the only challenge,”

“Retirement security also depends on how we as a society address critical questions about income and wealth inequality, affordable and accessible healthcare, environmental quality and safety, and the long-term stability of financial systems around the world,” he added.

Link: Irish Times:

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/republic-ranked-as-world-s-s...

Bernard Moffatt