Elderly Entrepreneurship in an Aging US Economy: It's Never Too Late (Series on Economic Development and Growth Vol. 2)

The study of elderly entrepreneurship and its potential impact on labor, Social Security funds and regional economic growth is of significant importance, particularly for the US economy where population aging coincidentally intersects with the economic shift to a "knowledge economy". On the one hand, aging, combined with a declining average retirement age, is expected to result in labor force shortages and Social Security fund exhaustion; yet on the other hand, the "knowledge economy" could elevate the value of elderly human capital as the "knowledge economy" is less physically demanding and more human-capital- and knowledge-based.

Building on the utility maximization theory, economic growth theories and social theories of aging, this timely book addresses the old-age effect on entrepreneurial propensity; the sources of seniors' entrepreneurship, including the social and policy variables affecting seniors' entrepreneurship; and the economic, fiscal and labor impacts of elderly entrepreneurship.

Contents: Socioeconomic Background: Aging Population, Resulted Labor and Fiscal Crises, and the Possible Solutions; Elderly Entrepreneurship to Sustain the Labor Force: Possibilities and Necessities; Literature Review: Previous Studies; Theoretical Framework; Age and Entrepreneurship; Social and Policy Factors for Elderly Entrepreneurship; Regional Distribution of Elderly Entrepreneurship; The Impact of Elderly Entrepreneurship on Metropolitan Economic Growth; The Labor and Social Security Impacts of Elderly Entrepreneurship; Conclusion and Future Research.