Use + Remix

Riding the age wave

Internal migrant workers can help Indonesia benefit from the demographic dividend. : The roads travelled for work – Women Migrant Workers in Singapore and Malaysia by Staton Winter available at https://bit.ly/3EvDPw6 CC BY 2.0

Population growth isn’t automatically good for Indonesia. Developing young people, and helping them to move are both key to economic development.

Riding the age wave

Mobile Indonesians powering the economy

Population growth isn’t automatically good for Indonesia. Developing young people, and helping them to move are both key to economic development.

Labour
Indonesia’s population diversity makes for big differences in the economy across its provinces. : ‘Arabic Quarter – Surabaya’ by Axel Drainville is available at https://bit.ly/3EEBFup CC BY 2.0

A difficult road lies ahead for Indonesia. Faced with a rare opportunity to turbo-charge economic growth, it has major problems yet to solve.

Riding the age wave

Indonesia at risk of missing golden economic opportunity

A difficult road lies ahead for Indonesia. Faced with a rare opportunity to turbo-charge economic growth, it has major problems yet to solve.

Labour
Fishing can help Indonesia grow its economy. : ‘Bali Kedonganan’ by Jorge Franganillo available at https://bit.ly/3UT9Vaw Jorge Franganillo CC BY 2.0

To catch the potential demographic bonus, Indonesia should use its biggest asset: fishing nets.

Riding the age wave

Fishing for the demographic dividend

To catch the potential demographic bonus, Indonesia should use its biggest asset: fishing nets.

Labour
As populations evolve, many people end up with the double burden of caring for children and parents. : ‘Patience’ by Budi Nuryirwan available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bukrie/14561469378/ CC BY 2.0

Sandwiched between the aged and the youth, with a societal expectation to care for both, millions of Indonesians are struggling.

Riding the age wave

Sandwich generation must also save for themselves

Labour
By 2100, 100 Chinese workers may be supporting 120 retired people. : vhines200 (Flickr) CC 2.0

China’s economic and family planning policies of the 1970s ushered in a ‘golden age’ of growth. But as China ages, keeping it golden will be a challenge.

Riding the age wave

China’s older people risk curtailing the prosperity they created

Society
Quality healthcare, education and work are all vital to harvest the full benefits of a demographic dividend. : ‘Crowd down the street’ by TheBigTouffe is available at https://bit.ly/3UPeiE5 Licensed under CC BY 2.0

The benefits of a growing demographic are not guaranteed. Governments need to ensure the right tools are in place as well.

Riding the age wave

Three essentials to cashing in on population growth

Economy
With a the highest ever number of young people, the world is on the cusp of a ‘demographic dividend’ opportunity : Michael Joiner & James Goldie, 360info CC BY 4.0

To make the most of the global wave of young people, young nations will have to learn from surfers and paddle hard.

6 perspectives
Special Report

Riding the age wave

Society