Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development

In recent years, population aging has been recognized as an emerging challenge in many parts of the world. Earlier studies discussed its impacts on the sustainability of social security systems and national economic growth; however, they tended to focus on the issues at the national level and were l...

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Main Authors: Shogo Kudo, Emmanuel Mutisya, Masafumi Nagao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-10-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/4/940
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author Shogo Kudo
Emmanuel Mutisya
Masafumi Nagao
author_facet Shogo Kudo
Emmanuel Mutisya
Masafumi Nagao
author_sort Shogo Kudo
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, population aging has been recognized as an emerging challenge in many parts of the world. Earlier studies discussed its impacts on the sustainability of social security systems and national economic growth; however, they tended to focus on the issues at the national level and were limited to developed countries. With the knowledge that population aging will be a predominant trend in both developed and developing countries, this paper aims to: (i) describe the global population aging trend and its regional demography; (ii) provide a structural review of population aging challenges at the national, communal and individual levels; and (iii) elaborate future research topics on population aging with a particular emphasis on developing countries. Several indicators suggest rapid population aging in the coming decades, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The structural review presents the diverse challenges that affect both young and older population groups. Finally, the need for linking population aging with the sustainable development concept and the possible rural decline caused by rapid urbanization are suggested as future research topics. Further studies to establish a body of knowledge on population aging in developing countries are required to place population aging on the agenda of future sustainable development discussions.
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spelling doaj.art-56e4c4fdb9fc4767acf9b3ea6097e4632022-12-21T19:13:05ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602015-10-014494096610.3390/socsci4040940socsci4040940Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentShogo Kudo0Emmanuel Mutisya1Masafumi Nagao2Graduate Program in Sustainability Science—Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-8563, JapanGraduate Program in Sustainability Science—Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI), Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-8563, JapanUnited Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, 5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, JapanIn recent years, population aging has been recognized as an emerging challenge in many parts of the world. Earlier studies discussed its impacts on the sustainability of social security systems and national economic growth; however, they tended to focus on the issues at the national level and were limited to developed countries. With the knowledge that population aging will be a predominant trend in both developed and developing countries, this paper aims to: (i) describe the global population aging trend and its regional demography; (ii) provide a structural review of population aging challenges at the national, communal and individual levels; and (iii) elaborate future research topics on population aging with a particular emphasis on developing countries. Several indicators suggest rapid population aging in the coming decades, especially in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The structural review presents the diverse challenges that affect both young and older population groups. Finally, the need for linking population aging with the sustainable development concept and the possible rural decline caused by rapid urbanization are suggested as future research topics. Further studies to establish a body of knowledge on population aging in developing countries are required to place population aging on the agenda of future sustainable development discussions.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/4/940population agingsustainable developmentrural declinecommunity function
spellingShingle Shogo Kudo
Emmanuel Mutisya
Masafumi Nagao
Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
Social Sciences
population aging
sustainable development
rural decline
community function
title Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
title_full Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
title_fullStr Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
title_full_unstemmed Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
title_short Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development
title_sort population aging an emerging research agenda for sustainable development
topic population aging
sustainable development
rural decline
community function
url http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/4/4/940
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