In
Greek mythology, the “Golden Age” referred to an idyllic period of peace and
stability when people lived long, healthy, active, and prosperous lives.
Prometheus, the Titan god of forethought, is said to have promised, “A new
Golden Age shall come, brighter and better by far than the old!”
In this
ancient fable, stable populations and long lives were central elements of
flourishing societies free of disease and poverty.
Nowadays,
stagnant populations and aging societies are often seen as a challenge or
threat, rather than an opportunity – but the current aging of societies in
Europe could bring citizens closer than many expect to the ideal described in
mythology.
Aging Societies
The average
age of the population in Europe and Central Asia today is 37 years old – eight
years older than the average age six decades ago. This development is most
advanced in the western part of the region, but the relatively young
populations in Turkey and in Central Asia are expected to quickly follow this
demographic trend.
The
main reason behind population aging in the region is not that people are living
longer, but that they are having fewer children. Since the 1970s, fertility
rates have declined dramatically. Outward migration of young people is also
playing a role in shaping the population structure in several countries.
The
potential impacts of aging societies are often cause for apprehension. Working
individuals, for example, are concerned about bearing the burden of financing
health and pension systems that will have to support more elderly people.
Such
concerns are warranted – and governments are tasked with helping to address
them in a socially responsible and fiscally prudent way. The task is immense
and challenging, but not impossible. Indeed, aging societies present
opportunities to implement important socioeconomic reforms that can ultimately
help foster a more active, healthy, and productive society.
A New Golden Age
Policies
can help stabilize the demographic structure, enhancing the opportunities and
mitigating the negative socioeconomic consequences of aging populations. The
most immediate priorities for governments are to enable longer and more
productive working lives, ensure fiscal sustainability, and prevent aging from
leading to an increase in old-age poverty. But individuals, businesses and
governments all have a role to play.
According
to legend, Prometheus was always looking to the future and preparing for what
might happen tomorrow, next year, or in a hundred years. To fully prepare for
the new demographic reality and to seize the potential opportunities,
policymakers across Europe and Central Asia would do well to follow his
example. Perhaps then, all citizens can look forward one day to their Golden
Age of aging.
Read in
detail: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/06/16/promise-of-prometheus-golden-aging-in-europe-and-central-asia
Courtesy: World Bank Report 2015
