Population ageing will be "economically painful"

Available for over a year

Global birth rates are falling, with some countries experiencing population decline. At the same time, many of us are living longer and relying on a shrinking workforce to support us in retirement. What can, or should, governments do to address this imbalance? Ronald Lee, from the University of California, Berkeley, says increasing retirement ages won't be enough and that tax increases will be inevitable if fertility does not improve. But Jane Falkingham, of the University of Southampton, says family friendly and gender parity policies in places like Scandinavia are having an impact. (Photo: An elderly woman holding a baby's hand. Credit: Adek Berry, Getty Images)