Growing Pains: Is Latin America Prepared for Population Aging?

Abstract

ix ©International Monetary Fund. Not for Redistribution 2 Immigration is unlikely to be a permanent solution because ultimately immigrants would be subject to the aging process, thereby adding pressures on pension and health care systems.

Population Aging in Latin America: A Salutogenic Understanding is Needed

“…Even though infectious diseases have been mitigated to a large extent, some of these countries still face significant challenges in the preventive and therapeutic approach to this type of disease. The explanations for this are based on the mucked capacity of public health systems, especially concerning epidemiological and health surveillance networks, and on a welfarist ideology that ignores the social determinants that, in turn, create important gaps between populations and generations (Figliuoli et al, 2018;WHO, 2015).…”

Generational Aspects of Inclusive Growth

“…• Countries with a large informal sector and low pension coverage could rely on several measures to broaden the coverage sustainably. These measures can include policies to increase the formal sector by, for example, incentivizing firms to use formal contracts, or by designing social assistance in a way that makes contributory schemes more beneficial for workers (Figliuoli et al, 2018). 21 Also, efforts could be made to increase coverage for the lower-skilled and less-educated by, for example, automatic enrollment in voluntary pension plans (Benartzi and Thaler, 2013).…”

“…These policies should focus not only on postponing the formal retirement age but also on creating incentives and opportunities to keep older workers with accrued pension rights in employment and on facilitating flexible working arrangements. Health care and training can maintain the productivity and employability of older workers (Figliuoli et al, 2018).…”

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…For this reason, it is essential to comprehend transitional states, such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and underlying factors that can lead to dementia (Mathers & Loncar, 2006 ; Murray & Lopez, 1997 ). Furthermore, knowledge about the prevalence of MCI defines the population strata to potentially benefit most from dementia risk reduction interventions to which public health resources can be allocated, ideally counteracting further increases of the already considerable challenges of dementia for the public health systems of low- and middle-income LAC countries from a socioeconomic and health care system perspective (Figliuoli et al, 2018 ).…”