Abstract
The populations of most of the nations of the world are growing older. This shift is creating a new demography, a demography of low fertility and long lives. The rapidly growing aging populations are putting unprecedented stresses on societies, because new systems of financial support, social support, and health care have to be developed and implemented. A century ago most of the people born around the world died before they had children; most of the people who had children died before their children had children. Old people were unusual; extended, three-generation families represented only a small fraction of all families. Today, in developed countries and many developing countries as well, the typical newborn can expect to survive to see the birth not only of children and grandchildren but great-grandchildren as well.
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Vaupel, J.W. (2000). Longevity as an Artifact of Civilization. In: Butler, R.N., Jasmin, C. (eds) Longevity and Quality of Life. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4249-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4249-0_8
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