Demographic dynamics and the international development strategy beyond 2015
United Nations Series on Development, 2014
The repercussions of demographic dynamics for development are considerable. Whereas countries fin... more The repercussions of demographic dynamics for development are considerable. Whereas countries find themselves at different stages of their demographic transition, the world population as a whole is ageing and becoming increasingly urban. Demographic trends cannot be easily reversed as they have built-in momentum, but they can be largely anticipated. The topic is obviously complex and vast, and cannot possibly be covered by a single chapter. Thus, this chapter will discuss some of the major impacts of demographic change on economic growth through its implications for labour supply, consumption, saving and investment patterns. But while demographic dynamics affect growth, economic growth has implications for the support of dependent populations as well. Economic growth is needed to support an appropriate distribution of consumption between active and inactive populations in order to avoid a high incidence of poverty among the inactive population. The question of support of dependent populations is relevant to the fulfillment of both the current and future international development agenda and related goals. Both the old and the very young represent a considerable share of the poor, even though not all of those in their working years are productively engaged and rewarded accordingly.
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