oDebunks the popular but dangerous myth that inflating stock prices creates national wealth o Reveals what can be done to avert a potential disaster for future retirees and the nation o Shows readers how to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of their retirement portfolios Three major trends are on a collision course: populations are aging in nearly all developed countries, increasing use of corporate stocks to create synthetic wealth, and growing hopes that stocks will help millions of baby boomers retire. But what will happen when boomers switch from buying stocks to selling them for retirement income? According to Thornton Parker, the answer is clear: prices will decline, stocks will become less important, corporations will shift their emphasis from inflating stocks to just surviving, and a depression could result. The bright side is that if enough boomers work in their later years and preserve their capital, and if the country improves the way it uses capital, the results can lead to fuller lives for millions of people, healthier communities, and more sustainable economies.