Large parts of Asia are getting old before they get rich
Even poor countries must start planning for an ageing population
A bulge in a country’s working-age population is a blessing. Lots of workers support relatively few children and retired people. So long as the labour market can absorb a surge of job-seekers, output per head will rise. That can boost savings and investment, leading to higher economic growth, more productivity gains and developmental lift-off. Yet for countries that fail to seize this opportunity, the results can be grim—as many developing countries may soon discover.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Prematurely grey”
From the October 14th 2023 edition
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