20/02/2013on mypaper
by VICTORIA BARKER
SINGAPORE'S ageing population is
unlikely to dampen the country's economic growth, a leading
Austrian population expert suggested yesterday.
Demographer Wolfgang Lutz said that though further study is
required, research so far has not shown any evidence that is in
line with the common "expectation that ageing societies have
economic problems".
"Our historical experience is still limited but, at least up to
this point, I have not seen convincing evidence that the ageing of
the labour force has negative consequences," he said.
Professor Lutz was responding to a question on whether the
challenges posed by an ageing population may not be as dire as
portrayed in the Government's hotly-debated Population White Paper,
released last month.
He added that, in fact, it is quite the opposite, citing Germany -
which he said is one of the oldest countries by median age of
population - as an example of an ageing population which is
thriving economically.
"Cyprus has a population that is about 10 years younger than
Germany's. So why doesn't the younger, dynamic population of Cyprus
overtake (it)?"
The 56-year-old said: "The image of today's elderly in Singapore is
strongly formed by the fact that they are largely uneducated."
But he noted that this will change, as the proportion of
Singaporeans with tertiary education has been on the rise. This
will translate to a better-educated and, therefore, more active
elderly population in the future.
The founding director of the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and
Global Human Capital was addressing around 140 academics and
members of the public at the RELC International Hotel, during a
lecture organised by the National University of Singapore's
Institute of Policy Studies.
In his lecture, Prof Lutz said that as a mature society, Singapore
must look at its human capital in a broader sense, beyond just
formal education.
"Motivation, imagination, innovativeness... These are valid,
relevant factors for economic well-being, as well as social
well-being," he said.
He said he attended last Saturday's protest against the White
Paper, where he sensed that many Singaporeans view a strong sense
of cultural and national identity as extremely important.
(((((((((((((((
Wow, he really bothered to attend the
Hong Lim Park protest.
I doubt the pinky will take his words
to do away with the population white paper. Nothing will deter ah
dou to bring in more foreigners to increase ah dou's
wealth.
