Expert group meeting on changing population age structures and sustainable development

New York

Date:

13 October 2016 to 14 October 2016

Overview

The world population is experiencing a historical shift in its age distribution, from the mostly young age structures of the past, towards larger proportions of middle-aged and older persons in the present and future decades. This shift is driven by the demographic transition from high to lower levels of both fertility and mortality. The social and economic consequences of these changes vary greatly across regions and countries.

In consideration of these major global demographic trends and their impacts on development, the Commission on Population and Development decided that the special theme of its 50th session, which will take place in New York from 3 to 7 April, 2017, would be “Changing population age structures and sustainable development”.

The meeting is to examine the various aspects of this topic, with emphasis on new evidence and analysis regarding the drivers and consequences of the changing age distribution of the population. Participants will review the demographic drivers of changing population age structures and examine the implications of shifts in the population age distribution for government policies regarding health, education, work, social protection and intergenerational support.

Documents

Organization of work

Thursday, 13 October 2016
09:30 – 10:00	Session I: Opening of the meeting
	John Wilmoth, Director, Population Division/DESA [Opening remarks] Jorge Bravo, Population Division/DESA, Introduction and objectives of the meeting Mun Sim Lai, Population Division/DESA, Global overview of changing population age structures and sustainable development [presentation]
10:00 – 11:30	Social security in ageing societies
	Moderator: Vinicius Pinheiro, International Labour Organization Agnieszka Chlon-Dominczak, Warsaw School of Economics, Population ageing and social security in Europe [presentation] Rafael Rofman, World Bank, Ageing and social security in Latin America [presentation] Rafal Chomik, University of New, South Wales, Population ageing and social security in Asia [presentation]
13:30 – 15:00	Session III: Demographic and economic constraints to balancing work and family obligations
	Moderator: Yumiko Kamiya, Population Division Albert Esteve, Autonomous, University of Barcelona, Intergenerational coresidence around the world [presentation] Simone Wajnman, Federal, University of Minas Gerais, Demographic dynamics of family and work in Brazil [presentation] Gretchen Donehower, University of California, Berkeley, Gender, age and economic activity [presentation]
15:15 – 17:00	Session IV: New perspectives on ageing
	Moderator: Rosemary Lane, Division for Social Policy and Development Warren Sanderson, Stony Brook College, Age structure, mortality and prospective ageing [presentation] A life course approach to health and ageing: John Beard, World Health Organization (video) Amson Sibanda, Division for Social Policy and Development, Intergenerational socio-economic inequalities [presentation]
Friday, 14 October 2016
9:30 – 11:00	Session V: Fewer children and youth, with better health and education
	Moderator: Michael Herrmann, UNFPA Elina Pradhan, Harvard University, Fertility decline and education in developing countries [presentation] Ragui Assaad, University of Minnesota, Fertility trends, health of children and youth in Arab countries [presentation]
11:15 – 12:45	Session VI: Aggregate economic implications of changing age structures: The demographic dividend
	Moderator: Jorge Bravo, Population Division Vegard Skirbekk, Columbia University, Ageing, health and work potential (video conference) [presentation] Eliya Zulu, African Institute for Development Policy, Africa’s demographic transition and demographic dividend [presentation] Michael Abrigo, University of Hawaii, New international evidence on the demographic dividend [presentation]
12:45 – 13:00	Session VII: Closing
	Closing remarks: John Wilmoth, Population Division