Bank of America’s thematic investing team this week introduced a fascinating new cohort to the world by christening Generation C, so named because their 2016 birthdate means they will be the first generation that won’t remember the outbreak of COVID-19.Falling fertility rates mean
BoA even reckons Gen C could also be “the first generation to ‘cheat death’ and achieve immortality and live in a net-zero world” if technologies like gene editing can eradicate major diseases such as cancer.If that sounds a little futuristic – and frankly, a little exhausting – it may be easier for investors to consider some of the other big demographic trends BoA believes investors need to wrap their heads around.
“Investing in life insurers, wealth management and pensions will be crucial for the great transfer of wealth from Baby Boomers all the way through to Gen C,” BoA says.“Technology and automation will be a crucial enabler for multiple themes including labour market shortages, New Asia’s demographic transition, and connectivity for the rise of Africa.
While all this might feel a little too distant for investors struggling to figure out what the next few months look like, it is possible to draw lines from the tumult of this week to the big demographic trends BoA foresees.The energy crisis gripping the country in part reflects the urgency of a climate change challenge that will drive future migration patterns and, according to some data, is already weighing on fertility patterns.