Investing in Gray | Pictet’s Maria Vassalou on Aging Demographics and Technological Innovations

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Jack welcomes Maria Vassalou, head of the Pictet Research Institute, to discuss global demographic decline and how technological revolution is imperative to prevent economic stagnation. They talk about why aging populations in countries like China, Japan, and Italy pose a fundamental threat to traditional economic growth as dependency ratios are projected to exceed 50%. Maria argues that while these trends seem "gloomy" in isolation, the rise of robotics and AI provides a critical remedy by substituting for scarce labor and significantly boosting productivity. The episode concludes with a look at the "winners" and "losers" of this shift, identifying housing, healthcare, and food as resilient sectors, while cautioning that countries must invest heavily in technology now to avoid long-term GDP flatlining/decline. Recorded December 12, 2025. 

“Demographics and Technology” Paper (by Maria Vassalou PhD & Pictet Research Institute): https://www.pictet.com/us/en/about/pictet-research-institute/publications-and-press/demographics-and-technology

More info about Pictet Research Institute: https://www.pictet.com/us/en/about/pictet-research-institute/publications-and-press/FT-coverage-30oct2025

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