SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

6.
AN
AGENDA FOR ACTION:
SHAPING THE FUTURE
The last several decades have deepened understanding
of the dynamic relationships between
population patterns and human development. Human
development leads to demographic transition,
which in turn can produce a demographic dividend
with significant positive consequences for human
development. Societies become more prosperous,
productive, healthy and well educated. People are
better off.
These outcomes, however, are not automatic.
While demographic transition is likely to occur in
every country, accelerating its arrival and realizing
the full promise of any potential dividend depend
largely on policy choices to steer the process. If
these choices are not made, or are made poorly, a
historic opportunity for human development gains
will be lost.
different country and even local contexts. There
are no one-size-fits-all solutions.
Some proposals generally apply to all countries;
others break down across three broad stages of
demographic transition, loosely defined as having
a large working-age, young or ageing population.
Some countries will need to consider implementing
policies from different categories at the same time,
because they bridge different stages of transition
within their own populations. Since urbanization
is a profound challenge and opportunity in many
parts of Asia-Pacific, with deep connections to
demographic changes, a few priorities are highlighted
here as well.
In the world as a whole, the right choices are no
more important than in Asia-Pacific, home to half
the human population. They are particularly critical
at a time when the need for development to be
sustainable and inclusive is increasingly obvious
and backed by international consensus through
Agenda 2030. If resources—whether human, fiscal,
environmental or any other form—are not marshalled
judiciously today, and the most made of them, they
will not be around tomorrow, undercutting prospects
for generations to come.
Most Asia-Pacific countries, at this moment in time,
are in a fortunate position. With more workers,
and fewer older and younger people dependent
upon them than at any point in history, they are
on the cusp of a unique moment to accelerate and
sustain human development. Earlier chapters of
this report provided detailed recommendations of
potential public policy choices. This chapter outlines
some priority options that might be pursued early
on, recognizing that these need to be tailored to
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