In this episode of Demographics Decoded, Simon Kuestenmacher and Michael Yardney discuss the changing landscape of retirement in Australia, focusing on the widening wealth gap between homeowners and renters.

 

For generations, Australians assumed they'd retire in their own home. It was the cornerstone of our national dream.

 

But new evidence from the HILDA survey shows that the dream is slipping away — and with it, the safety net for a secure retirement.

 

Today, two in three retirees who rent privately are living in poverty. And the wealth gap between homeowners and renters in retirement is only widening.

 

 

Takeaways 

 

·         Two in three retirees who rent privately are living in poverty.

·         The wealth gap between homeowners and renters is widening.

·         Homeownership is crucial for avoiding poverty in old age.

·         Superannuation alone is not enough for a secure retirement.

·         Government policies need to adapt to the changing demographics.

·         Intergenerational wealth transfer plays a significant role in homeownership.

·         Rent assistance is insufficient to cover rising housing costs.

·         The current housing market is increasingly unaffordable for younger generations.

·         Innovative ownership models could help address housing issues.

·         The government must increase social and affordable housing stock.

 

Chapters 

 

01:47 - What the HILDA Survey Reveals About Retirement Inequality 

04:33 - Why Owning a Home Is the Best Insurance Against Poverty 

07:24 - How Migration and Intergenerational Wealth Shape Housing Gaps 

10:42 - The Future of Homeownership and Government Policy Failures 

15:37 - The Bank of Mum and Dad: Early Inheritance and the New Divide

 

 

About Simon Kuestenmacher

 

Simon Kuestenmacher  is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group

 

Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.  

 

He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkuestenmac