Population Momentum and Population Aging in Asia and Near-East Countries by Andrew Mason, Sang-Hyop Lee, and Gerard Russo. East-West Center Working Papers, Population Series, No. 107. February 2001. 148 pp.

Abstract

The Year 2000 was a demographic watershed for Asia. After a century of population growth, the region aces two new challenges: slowing population growth and rapid populating aging. As these changes take place, policies to support the health and the economic security of the elderly are assuming increased importance, and decisions in this area will have far-reaching implications. With increasing difficulty, countries will have to weigh the interests of the young against those of the old, reconsider the responsibilities of the family vis-à-vis the state, and balance policies that favor equity against those that favor economic growth.

This study documents demographic change in Asia as a whole and in seven study countries in Asia and the Near East: the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, India, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Egypt. It presents population projections recently released by the United Nations (UN 1998), examines the underlying assumptions, and considers the implications of uncertainty about demographic trends. It addresses key issues related to aging and the health sector, old-age support systems, labor and retirement policy, and the macro-economy. The study identifies major policy challenges that countries in the region are facing and the strengths and weaknesses inherent in alternative approaches to policy reform.

PowerPoint summaries and detailed population and labor force projections are available on the East-West Center website.