As policymakers, businesses, researchers and civil society leaders gathered at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Population Ageing, the Silver Economy has emerged as one of the region’s most important opportunities and challenges. 

While discussions often focus on the growing spending power of older consumers, building a truly inclusive Silver Economy requires a broader perspective, one that recognises older people as workers, entrepreneurs, caregivers, volunteers and active contributors to society.  

In this article, CEPAR Professor of Practice Philip O’Keefe and co-lead of the Silver Economy sub-theme at the Asia conference explores the different layers of the Silver Economy and what governments, businesses and communities must do to ensure its benefits are widely shared.