TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF AGEING IN EUROPE AND EAST ASIA

This article is based on a public lecture given in 2025. It focuses primarily on the future of ageing in Europe and extracts relevant insights for similar considerations in East Asia. The fundamental challenge facing all societies, East and West, is not ageing itself but how to ensure that they age well and sustainably. The paper begins with a demographic overview. Then it criticises the common ‘burden’ scenario with regard to ageing. Then it examines the dynamic nature of ageing and how societies can age sustainably. Finally, a new approach is proposed, one that focuses less on old age and more on the whole process of ageing across the life course.