The Briefing Room - Are the old robbing the young?

Download Are the old robbing the young?

In her budget the Chancellor increased the state pension by 4.8 % in line with the government's triple lock formula. It was good news for pensioners but is it good news for the young? A constant background to spending and economic decisions for well over a decade now has been an argument about generational injustice. That the young are getting poorer. David Aaronovitch and guests look at the facts and ask whether the old are robbing the young and if so what should be done about it?

Guests:
Bobby Duffy, Professor of Public Policy at King’s College, London
Sophie Hale, Principal Economist, Resolution Foundation
Xiaowei Xu, Senior Research Economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Jane Falkingham Professor of Demography, Southampton University

Presenter: David Aaronovitch
Producers: Caroline Bayley, Cordelia Hemming, Kirsteen Knight
Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon

Published on Thursday, 4th December 2025.

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