Future Trends
Demographic Change

Frank Schirrmacher was born in Wiesbaden in 1952. After writing a dissertation on Kafka he joined the editorial team of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, one of the most prominent and respected newspapers in Germany. He was appointed literary editor, and since 1994 he has been an Associate Editor of the newspaper.

As well as being a highly successful newspaper editor, Frank Schirrmacher has developed a high profile with his own publication, Das Methusalem-Komplett (“The Methuselah Plot”). In the book he takes issue with the discrimination against the older section of the population, as well as the obsession with Youth. His arguments fuelled intense public debate over the effects of demographic change. The book rose rapidly to the top of the bestseller charts, where it remained for several months.

His most recent book “Minimum” was published in March 2006. It deals with the change in social ties and relationships, and the effects this will have on society. This is a further consequence of the changing demographic structure.

He speaks regularly to corporations on the change in the demographic structure, and the effects this will have on the behaviour of individuals in society in the future.