Aging in Asia: Setting the Research Foundation

Asia's populations will grow older at a rapid rate during the next 50 years. Many countries of the region have already completed the transition from high to low fertility rates and are experiencing a rise in the proportions of elderly in their populations. Their governments are concerned about the social and economic consequences of population aging and desire to fashion policies and programs that reflect national cultural and economic profiles. This report first develops a framework for understanding the factors that affect the status and well-being of the elderly. It then spells out the elements of a policy-oriented research agenda that can monitor the transformations likely to occur in the cultural, social, and economic arrangements for the elderly.