Economy & Business, Volume 10, 2016

Abstract: Recent shortcomings in consumption-oriented stimulus measures in the EU point to demographic trends as a possible explanation of lacklustre growth. The author studies changes in the age composition of CEE countries over time and their effects on household consumption using a force-fitted polynomial model. A strong negative link is found between the proportion of the population aged 65+ and the level of household consumption. The paper’s findings are expected to help augment current macroeconomic analysis techniques used by researchers and public institutions with a demographic component.