Demographic Change –System Reactions –Policy Goals

and Policy Alternatives

A Comparison of European and Latin American Countries

Ulrich Peter Ritter,

Department of Economics and Business

Administration

Goethe-University

Frankfurt/Main Germany

With 68 you are no longer considered to be old

Argentina Costa Rica Germany Ireland Sweden Denmark Japan Brazil

HDIvalue 0,811 0,773 0,925 0,92 0,92 0,901 0,912 0,73rank 45 62 17 7 8 15 10 85

Population (Mio.) 40,9 4,6 80,3 4,6 9 5,5 127,3 194

Birth rate (/1000) 17,2 17,8 8,37 10 10 10,2 8,23 14,97

Population growth (%) 0,98 1,5 -0,19 0,2 0,2 0,23 -0,1 0,83

Age structure

work force (15+) 60,5 57,9 66,1 64,3 64,4 65 61,8 68,5retired (65+) 10,6 8,4 20,9 11,7 20 17,6 24,8 7,3

GDPper capita PPP 16012 10863 26441 28557 29000 37657 37525 11875

Some basic data

Problems of countries with aging populations

• Change of age structure• Decrease of Population• Relative decrease of the workforce

with shortages of qualified workers• Regions with emigration (lack of

doctors, schools, other services,…..)• Pressure on the system of social

security• Poverty of elderly people

Reactions to aging populations

• Fostering of immigration• Fostering of the birth of children• Lowering pension age• Development of a „Silver Market“• ……

Nine basic fields of policy for aging populations

1. Political representation2. Subsistence3. Reintegration into the production process4. Living quarters5. Health care6. Nursing7. Inclusion8. Positive attitude9. Meaning of life10. Death and dying