Warner, Mildred E. and Lydia Morken. 2013. "Building Child- and Age-Friendly Communities in Tight Fiscal Times." The ICMA Municipal Year Book 2013. (Washington, D.C.: ICMA, 2013), 47-56.
Municipalities face a dual challenge: how to meet the needs of both a rapidly aging population and families with young children. Rather than viewing this challenge as a tradeoff between older adults and children, communities that strive for generational balance in their demographic composition and service delivery will find they have stronger economic development and fiscal health. After reviewing the changing demographic profile of America, this article explores the complementarities between seniors and young children, the need for economic development that invests in these two groups, and the demographic and fiscal challenges that impede such investment.
Subject: Planning