Age-structure transition and development in Asia and the Pacific: Opportunities and challenges

Patterns of production and consumption vary with age. Therefore, the age structure of the population should influence the development process through the supply of, and demand for, labour and goods and services. However, much of the debate and discussion on population and development during the past several decades has centred on the size and growth of the population. This is because the high rate of population growth that resulted from unprecedented declines in mortality leading to larger population vis-à-vis resources – after the Second World War was seen as impeding economic growth in developing countries, including those in Asia and the Pacific.