Joe Coughlin, PhD
Dr. Joe Coughlin leads the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. He is a researcher, teacher, speaker & advisor and expert at translating global demographic, social & technology insights into business strategy.
Dr. Joe Coughlin is founder and Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. Researcher, teacher & advisor – his work explores how global demographics, technology and changing behaviors are transforming business & society.
He teaches in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies & Planning. Coughlin advises Fortune 1000 companies worldwide and has served on multiple governmental advisory committees, including the White House Advisory Committee on Aging, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Commission on the Future of Aging, and chaired the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’s Task Force on Technology and Older Adults.
He currently serves on the World Economic Forum’s Longevity Economy Steering Committee.
Coughlin was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as inventing the future of retirement, named as one of “100 Most Creative in Business” by Fast Company Magazine, and one of Investment News “Icons & Innovators.” He was named as one of 15 World Minds by the Switzerland-based World Minds, a select community of global leaders in science, arts and business.
Coughlin is Senior Contributor to Forbes and writes for MarketWatch, and the Wall Street Journal. His book, The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World’s Fastest Growing, Most Misunderstood Market was named a CEO READS Best Seller. Coughlin's new book, with MIT AgeLab colleague, Luke Yoquinto, Longevity Hubs of Innovation, details how several of the world's metropolitan regions are translating old age into new economic opportunity will be released by MIT Press, Winter 2023.
IF DEMOGRAPHY IS DESTINY, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE?
Demography is destiny. Unlike economic and technology forecasting that are most often based upon selected and changeable assumptions, demographics are based upon the people that are already here. Demographic transition, evolving lifestyles as well as related technology trends are rapidly changing. These trends are likely to have a transformative impact on real estate touching residential and commercial property as well as fuel the growth of specialized emerging developments. Among these factors are the aging of the population, high divorce rates, smaller household composition, a three- or even four-generation workplace and the drastic reduction of fertility rates across the nation. This new demographic reality combined with the emergence of the sharing economy—a world where you can have it all, but own none of it—is changing our ideas about the future of community, home, retail and work. This engaging and entertaining presentation will explore the disruptive demographics of tomorrow and weave a story of how demography, along with next-gen technologies, will shape the future of communities, where we choose to live and housing.
