Compared to other regions, Europe and Central Asia are by far the oldest. Moreover, population aging is set to accelerate further over the coming decades as large segments turn old. Additionally, some countries such as Russia and certain Eastern European countries are facing a shrinkage of their population. Against this backdrop, this report investigates what stands in the way of societies reaping the full benefits of increased longevity--that is, longer lives and potentially prolonged payoffs from human capital--and what can help to mitigate the possible negative impacts of a smaller and older workforce. Beginning with a focus on demographic trends, the report puts the rapid decline in fertility and contrasting migration trends in the region in a historical perspective and looks forward to the varying paths that population change may follow in the region. Next, it examines the evidence on the likely impact of demographic change on growth and savings, the labor force, firm and economy-wide innovation, poverty and inequality, and intergenerational solidarity. Finally, the report goes beyond diagnostics and puts an emphasis on what we know regarding successful policy interventions, presenting evidence on what has and has not worked in the past.--Publisher description.

Human aging is perhaps the most complex and important subject that will be facing science and societies in the next century. Persons seem to be living longer and remaining more active than their parents and grandparents. This is leading to social and demographic shifts that must be accommodated by society. On the other hand it presents perplexing questions about the underlying processes and determinants of healthy aging. This book gives a design for research that will increase our understanding of the factors that influence healthy aging and can lead to improvements in reducing the levels of disability in the population. It's focus is on biobehavioural and psychological factors contributing to healthy aging. Since human aging is determined by many interacting conditions inside and outside of the organism, research should concentrate on ecological relationships between the human organism and its social and physical environment. Not only individual characteristics associated with aging are discussed in this book, but also their impacts on society. Living longer means most persons will have fewer years to earn money to maintain their lives in a longer retirement. How can these two forces be resolved through public policy? At the same time greater competence in the later years needs clues to ways of releasing this productivity for the benefit of society and individuals. Adding healthy life expectancy and creating as much as possible disability-free years is a goal that can only be reached through fact finding by a multidisciplinary team of scientist collaborating on an international basis. Such a team is present in the collaborators represented in this book. The information presented in 'Aging in Europe' has not been available in any single source before. In many ways this book provides a model of gaining knowledge through cooperation that should guide us in the next century and beyond.

This book brings together leading scholars to present an understanding of the processes underlying the very rapid population ageing in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to discussing the main demographic drivers behind this development in each of the countries examined, this volume also discusses its implications for policy, healthcare provision, workforces, intergenerational family relations, the social cohesion of future Central and Eastern European societies, and the quality of life experienced by their citizens.

This study investigates the demographic characteristics of the "oldest old" (people aged 80 and more). The European Population Committee of the Council of Europe decided to undertake this research, given that it is the fastest growing age group within the population and there is an increased realization that the group has different needs and is different socially, economically and physically from the "younger old" (ages 60 - 79). The report describes changing age and sex structure, existing living arrangements and some of the socio-economic characteristics of this population group. It provides valuable material for policymakers since the subject is closely linked to issues such as rising health care costs, community care, and provisions for institutionalised housing.

As the United States and the rest of the world face the unprecedented challenge of aging populations, this volume draws together for the first time state-of-the-art work from the emerging field of the demography of aging. The nine chapters, written by experts from a variety of disciplines, highlight data sources and research approaches, results, and proposed strategies on a topic with major policy implications for labor forces, economic well-being, health care, and the need for social and family supports.