by Gerard F. Anderson and Peter Sotir Hussey
ABSTRACT: Increasing longevity and declining fertility rates are shifting the age
distribution of populations in industrialized countries toward older age groups.
Some countries will experience this demographic shift before others will. In this
DataWatch we compare the effects of population aging on health spending,
retirement policies, use of long-term care services, workforce composition, and
income across eight countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New
Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. International comparisons
suggest that the United States is generally well positioned to cope with population
aging; however, three areas should be carefully monitored: heavy reliance
on private-sector funding of retirement, coverage of pharmaceuticals for the
elderly, and a high proportion of private long-term care financing.