Generation Lab

GENlab is SDA Bocconi’s research laboratory dedicated to the study of demographic transformations and their impact on the economy, financial systems, labour markets, and the sustainability of welfare systems.

The laboratory combines academic research, quantitative analysis, and collaboration with companies and institutions to measure the effects of longevity and support informed decision-making. Within this framework, GENlab systematically addresses issues such as longevity risk, savings and pension dynamics, labour market evolution, and intergenerational balance.

Through the development of metrics, analytical models, and applied initiatives, GENlab aims to serve as a reference platform for understanding the economic and financial implications of population ageing and for identifying sustainable and scalable long-term solutions.

Why the Generation Lab?

To understand a structural transformation: population ageing is reshaping economic growth, financial systems, labour markets, and public finances.
To make longevity measurable: moving beyond general awareness of demographic change towards a rigorous quantification of its economic and financial impact.
To overcome fragmented analyses: integrating demographics, finance, welfare, and labour market dynamics within a unified analytical framework.
To quantify risks and opportunities: assessing longevity risk, retirement savings adequacy, pension system sustainability, and the value at stake for institutions and industry.
To support decision-makers: providing data, models, and evidence to inform public policies and strategic decisions by companies and financial market participants.
To foster dialogue among stakeholders: creating a shared analytical foundation and common language across academia, industry, and institutions.
To develop actionable solutions: translating research into scalable practices, financial innovation, and policy-relevant interventions.

Activities

Intergenerational Justice Project

The Intergenerational Justice Index is one of the core pillars of GENlab and builds on the experience and research legacy of the Age-It partnership. The initiative was developed to provide a rigorous and systematic assessment of the balance between generations in contemporary societies, offering a robust analytical foundation for both academic research and policy-making.

The Index adopts a multidimensional approach, examining the key areas in which inequalities between generations emerge, including economic and distributive fairness, access to services and opportunities, quality of social relationships, and representation in decision-making processes. By combining these dimensions, the Index moves beyond a purely economic interpretation of inequality and provides a more comprehensive understanding of intergenerational dynamics.

Within GENlab, the Intergenerational Justice Index serves as a research and impact-oriented platform designed to identify generational imbalances, monitor their evolution over time, and support the development of fairer, more sustainable, and inclusive public policies and institutional strategies. Its continuity with Age-It and its connection to Bocconi’s expertise in ageing, welfare systems, and economic policy further strengthen the scientific relevance and practical impact of the initiative.

For further insights, read the article

Activities

GenerAzione Talento Project

“GenerAzione Talento” is the second pillar of GENlab and builds on the initiative promoted by the ELIS Consortium, expanding and strengthening its framework through applied research and business engagement.

In a demographic context marked by the progressive ageing of the workforce – with workers aged 50 and over now representing the largest segment of the employed population – the project addresses a structural challenge for organizations and the broader economic system: leveraging the contribution of senior workers as a strategic asset for competitiveness, innovation, and long-term sustainability.

“GenerAzione Talento” is based on a comprehensive approach that combines research, experimentation, and knowledge transfer. On the one hand, it explores the needs, skills, and expectations of senior workers; on the other, it promotes organizational models that foster intergenerational exchange, with particular emphasis on mentoring practices and the transfer of professional knowledge and expertise. The project also includes the testing of concrete solutions within organizations, with the aim of developing scalable and replicable practices.

Within GENlab, “GenerAzione Talento” serves as a research and action platform supporting organizations in addressing demographic change and workforce transformation. By promoting more inclusive, sustainable, and future-oriented models of work, the initiative recognizes the experience and expertise of senior workers as a key resource for skills development, innovation, and business continuity.

Events

Output

Report 2025
Indice di Giustizia Intergenerazionale
An index of intergenerational justice: main concepts and preliminary evidence from the Age-It Research Program
Aging well in an aging society: Italy at the forefront of global aging and the Age-It Research Program