The potentially destabilising effect of demographic change

Last month, Moody’s, the credit rating agency published a report that indicated the potentially negative economic and political implications of demographic change in the Caribbean and Central America. It suggested that if government and the private sector do not make significant improvements in education, health care and other social determinants, many nations will struggle to remain competitive, particularly after 2050. 

The report’s findings were amplified just over a week ago in a webinar hosted by Marla Dukharan, one of the region’s leading economists, and Moody’s Assistant Vice President, the  analyst David Rogovic, who in an online dialogue made clear the policy issues that needed to be addressed.

Moody’s research contained potentially alarming statistics and tables that pointed to several critical and so far largely unaddressed long-term policy challenges facing the region.