The demographic transformation sweeping the emerging world has profound
implications for U.S. development policy. The challenge is no longer
helping countries overcome the obstacles to development posed by high
birthrates and rapid population growth, but leveraging the opportunities
created by falling birthrates and slowing population growth. This report
discusses how developing countries can best leverage their "demographic
dividends" in order to boost income and wealth while they are still
young and growing, as well as how they can prepare for the inevitable
aging of their populations that looms just over the horizon. It also
explores what the emerging new demographic realities imply for the
optimal shape of U.S. development policy in decades to come.