Aging Trends
Beyond 50.04: A Report to the Nation on Consumers in the Marketplace
Research Report
George Gaberlavage, AARP Public Policy Institute
Sharon Hermanson, AARP Public Policy Institute
Christopher Baker, AARP Public Policy Institute
Kellie Kim-Sung, AARP Public Policy Institute
Neal Walters, AARP Public Policy Institute
Mitja Ng-Baumhackl, AARP Public Policy Institute
Ann McLarty Jackson, AARP Public Policy Institute
May 2004
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- Beyond 50 Home
- Economic Security
- Economic Security in the States
- Health Security
- Independent Living and Disability
- Consumers in the Marketplace
- Livable Communities
- Press Release
In the future, the word "consumer" will increasingly mean "older consumer." This report examines the implications of this demographic change from a public policy perspective—more specifically, consumer information policy. It addresses a key question: What is needed in today's marketplace to assure that older consumers have the information and tools they need to make wise decisions concerning their financial security?
This report, the fourth in AARP's Beyond 50 series, discusses expenditures by the older consumer, factors that are increasing the difficulty of consumer decision making, older consumers as money managers, and recommendations for the future.
The lead author of the 50.04 report is George Gaberlavage of AARP's Public Policy Institute (PPI); other authors are Sharon Hermanson, Christopher Baker, Kellie K. Kim-Sung, Neal Walters, Mitja Ng-Baumhackl, Ann McLarty Jackson, and Gabriel Montes, all of PPI. (123 pages)
Download Report
Table of Contents and Executive
Summary (PDF, 15 pages)
Part 1: A Growing Market:
Expenditures of the Older Population (PDF, 14 pages)
Part 2: The Management
Challenge (PDF, 34 pages)
Part 3: Report Recommendations
(PDF, 34 pages)
Part 4: Special Analyses (PDF,
42 pages)
Appendices: Consumer
Information (PDF, 20 pages)
Executive Summary (HTML)
To order printed copies
Please, include your full postal mailing address as well as the title and stock number:
- Beyond 50.04 (Stock #D18098)
Send your request by mail to
AARP Fulfillment
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
or by e-mail to member@aarp.org