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Asian countries
are experiencing demographic transition from a young to an increasingly older
population. The ageing of populations is unfolding against a context often characterised
by persistent poverty, gender vulnerability, economic strain, constricted public
resources, and limited civil institutions to support the elderly.
Two key interlinked dimensions
are important: first, how social and economic changes have affected or will
affect the well-being and support situation of present or future older people,
and how older people’s needs and position in society relate to development
and the consequences for policy. The paper identifies the gaps that exist in
our understanding of ageing in Asian developing countries and discusses the
key issues, tensions and perspectives that characterise current debates at local
level and their implications for development in many Asian developing and some
transitional countries. The paper urges recognition of ageing and development
as part of poverty reduction strategies.
This paper adopts a critical
perspective in understanding ageing and the preparedness of Asian developing
countries to address future challenges of ageing populations.1 Examining the
emerging questions and debates in this field requires an insight into the demographic
transition and future challenges these countries are facing. These challenges
will have important policy implications. Asian developing countries have less
time to set in place the institutions needed to cope with population ageing,
and are disadvantaged by fiscal constraints, poor governance and weak public
agencies.
Specific issues will be
drawn out, with several examples to highlight some of the concerns faced by
these countries. The future path of population ageing in Asia over the coming
decades is well predicted and demographically significant. In explaining the
need for a critical understanding of the Asian ageing phenomenon, we argue that
it is imperative to view the well-being of older people as a social group within
their historical cohorts and their respective life courses. The underlying question
to be answered is to what extent ageing Asian countries are poised to address
the challenges of increasingly ageing societies and how growing proportions
of changing age structures of populations will affect societies’ economic
and social structures.
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