Securing the Future for Old Age in the Asia and Pacific Region: Short-Term and Historical Challenges

This paper sets out to summarize major conundrums, and some of their solutions, in pension reform policy of the years ahead, with particular reference to the Asia-Pacific Region, and here again, Japan and Thailand. The repercussions for non-action pertaining to the reform and overhaul of public pension systems go far beyond the realm of social policy and economic development. The twin-issue of old-age poverty and fiscal sustainability of public pension systems -- as they are today -- will, and already has started to, shape and fundamentally alter politics and society in the world, and also the Asia and Pacific Region. This paper hence also puts forward sustainable pension reform strategies, recipes and solutions.