Good Morning,
Welcome to this week’s exploration of the intricate nexus between economics and the pursuit of longevity, where we delve into how global financial trends and innovations are interwoven with the quest for extended, healthier lives.
In this special edition, we spotlight a biohacking start-up in Honduras, blending cutting-edge gene therapy with the dynamic world of cryptocurrency, embodying a new frontier where medical progress meets financial experimentation. Next, we shift gears to a thought-provoking discussion from the Financial Times, challenging the conventional wisdom of GDP as the sole indicator of a nation’s progress, proposing life expectancy as a more comprehensive measure of national well-being. Finally, we dive into the World Bank’s insights on productive aging, unveiling how embracing an aging workforce can yield a ‘longevity dividend’, reshaping economies and societies at large.
Join us as we offer a unique lens through which to view the evolving landscape of health, wealth, and longevity.
A longevity and crypto island?!..
The Longevity and Cryptocurrency Island (MIT Technology Review)
Minicircle, a biohacking startup, is conducting gene therapy trials in Próspera, Honduras, a unique economic zone attracting significant investments from tech giants like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen.
This experimental city, aiming to be a hub of medical innovation and tourism, allows Minicircle to operate under bespoke, “innovation-friendly” regulations. The company’s approach to funding trials is unconventional, requiring participants to purchase NFTs and offering cryptocurrency as compensation. This strategy reflects Próspera’s philosophy of financial experimentation and deregulation, appealing to both biohackers and investors. However, this blend of high finance and cutting-edge medical research in a less regulated environment raises concerns about the safety and ethical implications of Minicircle’s trials.
The company’s efforts in Próspera highlight the complex interplay between ambitious medical innovation and the burgeoning world of crypto-financed ventures.
THE LONGEVITY INVESTOR REPORT
This exclusive first edition has a complete sector breakdown, and an introduction to some of the key things professional longevity investors are looking at.
We’re demystifying the sector, and providing inside access to the most promising companies.
Is GDP Outdated? Should We Focus on Life-Expectancy? (Financial Times)
Sarah O’Connor’s Financial Times article challenges the notion that GDP is the sole measure of a country’s progress, using the U.S. as a case study. Highlighting the lack of statutory paid leave in America, she contrasts it with other countries and questions the reliance on GDP as the primary yardstick of national prosperity. O’Connor suggests that life expectancy, influenced by healthcare, education, and social policies, offers a more holistic view of a nation’s well-being.
Despite its economic strength, the U.S. falls behind other nations in life expectancy, even those with lower GDPs. This discrepancy highlights the limitations of GDP as a standalone success metric. O’Connor concludes by emphasizing the importance of using economic growth as a means to enhance the quality and longevity of life, rather than as an end in itself.
The Challenges and Promises of Productive Aging (Brookings, World Bank)
The article “The Challenges and Promises of Productive Aging” by Michael Lokshin, Lead Economist at the World Bank, focuses on strategies for economic growth in countries with aging populations.
Lokshin suggests three options: increasing migration, advancing automation, and engaging older workers. The latter is deemed most viable due to limitations on migration and automation. The aging global population, driven by lower fertility and higher longevity, offers a ‘longevity dividend’ if older workers are effectively integrated. Challenges include slower GDP growth and stressed social systems. Solutions involve policy reforms in education, healthcare, and labor markets, promoting lifelong learning and flexible careers.
The article also highlights the need for preventive healthcare and addressing disparities in life expectancy and workforce participation among genders, emphasizing inclusive policies for maximizing aging population benefits.
As we close this week’s special focus on the interplay between the global economy and the pursuit of longevity, several profound insights stand out.
We’ve journeyed from the pioneering shores of Próspera, Honduras, where a biohacking startup marries gene therapy with the daring world of cryptocurrency, to thought-provoking perspectives on redefining national progress by prioritizing life expectancy over GDP. This journey underscores the multifaceted impact of economic trends and innovations on our quest for extended, healthier lives.
In this evolving narrative, we see a world where financial experimentation and medical advancements converge, challenging traditional paradigms. From the prospects of a ‘longevity dividend’ through productive aging to ethical debates surrounding less regulated medical research, the stories we explored this week highlight the complex, yet promising, fusion of health, wealth, and longevity.
As we navigate this intricate landscape, may we remain vigilant and optimistic, embracing the changes and opportunities that lie ahead in our collective quest for a longer, healthier future.
Age happy and healthy,
The Longr Reads Team
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
Sophia Loren, Actress
Longr Reads’ of the Week
- Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (Netflix)
- 6 Simple Ways To Tap Into Longevity, The Wellness Trend The One Per Cent Is Obsessed With (Vogue)
- How old are you, really? The answer is written on your face (National Geographic)
