Global Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges, Opportunities and Implications

Population ageing - a growth in the proportion of a population that is in older age - is now occurring in every region and nearly every country of the world. Indeed, the growth of older populations is among the important global phenomena of the twenty-first century. It poses both opportunities and challenges for societies and policy makers, but these are far from uniform worldwide. Dynamic factors are at work impacting on how ageing will influence people, places and policies and there are large variations in the rate and timing of population ageing across countries, owing to differing social, health and economic circumstances and a variety of policy options from which to choose. Given this variation in the context of global ageing as a backdrop, this edited book focuses on three overarching themes that are among the most critical to understand if societies are to age successfully in the twenty-first century and beyond: Healthy ageing and health care; the ageing workforce, retirement and the provision of pensions; shifting intergenerational relations. These three themes are cross-cut by other dimensions that are intertwined with the dynamic processes of ageing, such as immigration/emigration, contrasting policy regimes and global and national economic forces. This ground-breaking book will be of interest to all scholars, students and policy-makers working within this area of study.

Table of Contents:
1: Global Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: An Introduction; 2: The Population Ageing Process in Global Perspective; I: Healthy Ageing and Health Care; 3: Ageing, Functional Disabilities and its Gender Dimensions: Results based on a Study in Delhi; 4: A Gendered Perspective on Well-Being in Later Life: Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine; 5: A Global Perspective on Physiological Change with Age; 6: Religious Activity and Transitions in Functional Health and Mortality among Middle Aged and Older Adults in Taiwan; 7: Addressing Health Challenges of Ageing in sub-Saharan Africa: Policy Perspectives and Evidence Needs; 8: New Myths about Ageing: The Growth of Medical Knowledge and its Societal Consequences; II: Ageing Workforce, Retirement and the Provision of Pensions; 9: Population Ageing and its Global Challenges; 10: Reimagining Old Age in Europe: Effects of Changing Work and Retirement Patterns; 11: Risky Business: Ageing as an Information Technology Worker; III: Shifting Intergenerational Relations; 12: Gender, Marital Status and Intergenerational Relations in a Changing World; 13: The Cultural Context of Social Cohesion and Social Capital: Exploring Filial Caregiving; 14: Generational Differences in Caregiving and its Consequences; 15: Family Relations and the Experience of Loneliness among Older Adults in Eastern Europe; 16: Levels of Welfarism and Intergenerational Transfers within the Family: Evidence from the Global Ageing Survey (GLAS); 17: Conclusion: Global Ageing in the Twenty-First Century – Where to From Here?

About the Author :
Professor Susan A. McDaniel, University of Lethbridge, Canada. Professor Zachary Zimmer, University of California at San Francisco, USA.

Review :
’McDaniel and Zimmer have put together an outstanding array of research chapters on the implications and possibilities of global ageing. The book is innovative in synthesising theory, empirical evidence and practice. Global Ageing is likely to be a leader in the field. I very strongly recommend this truly international book as it will ensure an global audience on the most pressing issue of our time’. Jason L. Powell, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK 'This valuable book succeeds in bringing together new thinking and evidence across regions and cities internationally. It adopts a constructive approach, recognising opportunities and challenges ahead and the wide variability of ageing across social groups and national contexts. The contributors include established authorities along with emerging scholars. While there is disciplinary strength - notably in demography, economics and sociology - the text is relatively free of jargon and should be accessible to a range of readers, including researchers, advanced students and policy makers.' Ageing and Society 'The ageing of the world’s population is no longer a phenomenon restricted to wealthy or developed nations, but is evident in all continents, including Africa and all regions, including the Middle East. Clearly the time has come for us to take stock of the demographic transition at the global level to understand what population ageing on this unprecedented scale will mean for society, the economy, policy and the countless other things that are likely to be affected. This volume boldly confronts the issue, with some regard for the many who have gone before, but also with a refreshing energy that suggests that in the 21st century and with the benefit of some experience, perhaps we can see the shape of things to come more clearly.' International Journal of Ageing and Later Life 'This book vividly demonstrates how investigating global trends reveals the real subtleties and complexities beneath doomsday headl