Home > All articles Critically Understanding Asian Perspectives on Ageing Asian countries are experiencing demographic transition from a young to an increasingly older population. The ageing of populations is unfolding against a context often characterised by persistent poverty, gender vulnerability, economic strain, constricted public resources, and limited civil institutions to support the elderly. Two key interlinked dimensions are important: first, how social and economic changes have affected or will affect the well-being and support situation of present or future older people, and how older people’s needs and position in society relate to development and the consequences for policy. The paper identifies the gaps that exist in our understanding of ageing in Asian developing countries and discusses the key issues, tensions and perspectives that characterise current debates at local level and their implications for development in many Asian developing and some transitional countries. The paper urges recognition of ageing and development as part of poverty reduction strategies. This paper adopts a critical perspective in understanding ageing and the preparedness of Asian developing countries to address future challenges of ageing populations.1 Examining the emerging questions and debates in this field requires an insight into the demographic transition and future challenges these countries are facing. These challenges will have important policy implications. Asian developing countries have less time to set in place the institutions needed to cope with population ageing, and are disadvantaged by fiscal constraints, poor governance and weak public agencies. Specific issues will be drawn out, with several examples to highlight some of the concerns faced by these countries. The future path of population ageing in Asia over the coming decades is well predicted and demographically significant. In explaining the need for a critical understanding of the Asian ageing phenomenon, we argue that it is imperative to view the well-being of older people as a social group within their historical cohorts and their respective life courses. The underlying question to be answered is to what extent ageing Asian countries are poised to address the challenges of increasingly ageing societies and how growing proportions of changing age structures of populations will affect societies’ economic and social structures. > Dowload the paper     By KS Date 20-06-2009 Print this article | React to this article