<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The aim of the study was to diagnose the current and projected pace of ageing in the societies of European post-communist countries from the point of view of its being an increasing economic burden on the economically active population. The analysis covered the years 1990–2050. Ageing is already visible and, according to the forecast, the process will accelerate even more. The old-age dependency ratio (OADR) is expected to exceed 50 in half of the countries in the study by 2050. This will result in major threats to the further development of these countries and will lead to poverty and social exclusion of the elderly. In order to slow down the ageing process, the authorities of these countries should take a number of actions, the most important of which are the implementation of an effective and efficient pro-natal policy (so that the total fertility rate would increase above 2.1), and a well-thought-out migration policy.</p>
</abstract>

The aim of the study was to diagnose the current and projected pace of ageing in the societies of European post-communist countries from the point of view of its being an increasing economic burden on the economically active population. The analysis covered the years 1990–2050. Ageing is already visible and, according to the forecast, the process will accelerate even more. The old-age dependency ratio (OADR) is expected to exceed 50 in half of the countries in the study by 2050. This will result in major threats to the further development of these countries and will lead to poverty and social exclusion of the elderly. In order to slow down the ageing process, the authorities of these countries should take a number of actions, the most important of which are the implementation of an effective and efficient pro-natal policy (so that the total fertility rate would increase above 2.1), and a well-thought-out migration policy.

Ageing in European post-communist countries – is it a threat to the welfare system?

Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography

Department of Socio-Economic Geography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The aim of the study was to diagnose the current and projected pace of ageing in the societies of European post-communist countries from the point of view of...

Ageing in European post-communist countries – is it a threat to the welfare system?

Published Online: Jun 30, 2021

Page range: 63 - 71

Received: Apr 26, 2021

Accepted: Jun 14, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2021-0011

Keywords
ageing, old-age dependency ratio, second demographic transition, European post-communist countries

© 2021 Tomasz Michalski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Ageing in European post-communist countries – is it a threat to the welfare system?

Published Online: Jun 30, 2021

Page range: 63 - 71

Received: Apr 26, 2021

Accepted: Jun 14, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/environ-2021-0011

Keywordsageing, old-age dependency ratio, second demographic transition, European post-communist countries

© 2021 Tomasz Michalski et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
ageing, old-age dependency ratio, second demographic transition, European post-communist countries