Airstrip One

Vulnerability to the Economic Costs of an Aging Population - 9th January 2003, 23.05

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies released its annual Aging Vulnerability Index in November 2002 on pdf format.

The countries identified as most "at risk" were Spain, Italy and France, whilst the least vulnerable were the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Surprisingly, Japan is identified as "Medium Vulnerability".

Both Italy and France may prove unable to reform and avert this impending crisis but Spain is more flexible, given its federal structure and adaptable economy. Countries that do not avert this crisis will face "economic and social meltdown".