Aging in the Asian “Tigers”: Challenges for Fiscal Policy

October 1, 1997

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Format: Chicago

Peter S. Heller Aging in the Asian “Tigers”: Challenges for Fiscal Policy, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1997) accessed December 22, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The paper assesses the government expenditure effects from changing demographics in the Asian “Tiger” economies through 2050. With some exceptions, their limited social insurance commitments initially suggest that aging populations may not adversely affect fiscal balances. Yet for all the Tigers, changing illness patterns and medical modernization may combine with demographics to intensify budgetary pressures. The paper notes the implications of the Tigers’ reliance on private sector pension and medical insurance systems; the need for an active public role; and the complications for fiscal analysis when private sector instruments are used, in a mandatory way, as public policy instruments.

Subject: Aging, Expenditure, Health, Health care, Labor, Pension spending, Pensions, Population and demographics

Keywords: Aging, Asia, Contribution scheme, Demographics, East Asia, Global, Government employee, Government expenditure effect, Government expenditure share, Government hospital, Government involvement, Government outlay, Government regulation, Health, Health care, Health outlay, Insurance scheme, Labor force, Market failure, Medical care, Pension outlay, Pension spending, Pensions, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

55
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 1997/143
Stock No:

WPIEA1431997
ISBN:

9781451856309
ISSN:

1018-5941

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