So much for migrants making Australia younger

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For years, immigration lobbyists have claimed that Australia requires a “strong” migration program to counteract the impacts of an ageing population.

They usually justify this by pointing out that migrants tend to be younger than locals. Because of this, immigration helps reduce the average age of the population, thereby solving the “problem” of an ageing population.

However, because immigrants also age, this line of thinking is incorrect.

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.