Population Ageing in Central and
Eastern Europe
Societal and Policy Implications
Edited by Andreas Hoff, Zittau-Goerlitz University of Applied
Sciences, Germany and Oxford Institute of Ageing,
University of Oxford, UK
New Perspectives on Ageing and Later Life
September 2011
290 pages
978-0-7546-7828-1
Includes 74 b&w illustrations
234 x 153 mm
Hardback
£60.00
During the 1990s, Europe became the first continent with a 'mature society', where people aged 60 years and older
outnumber children and as this trend continues, the resulting 'ageing societies' will differ from previous societies in their
make-up, in their needs, and in their resource allocation. Population ageing poses an even greater challenge to the postcommunist societies of Central and Eastern Europe. While still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the economic and
social transition process following the breakdown of communism, they are now facing even more rapid demographic
change than Western Europe.
This book brings together leading scholars to present an understanding of the processes underlying the very rapid
population ageing in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to discussing the main demographic drivers behind this
development in each of the countries examined, this volume also discusses its implications for policy, healthcare
provision, workforces, intergenerational family relations, the social cohesion of future Central and Eastern European
societies, and the quality of life experienced by their citizens.
Organised around broad geographical regions with final sections analysing the book's findings and their future
implications, Population Ageing in Central and Eastern Europe will be of interest to gerontologists, policy makers,
students and scholars of population change
Contents
Foreword; Preface; Introduction: the drivers of population ageing in Central and Eastern Europe – fertility, mortality and
migration, Andreas Hoff; Part I Population Ageing in Eastern Europe: Population ageing in Poland, Ewa Fratczak;
Population ageing in Lithuania: the need for a new attitude towards ageing, Sarmite Mikulioniene; Heterogeneity of
population ageing in Russia and policy implications, Gaiane Safarova. Part II Population Ageing in Central-Eastern
Europe: Population ageing in the Czech Republic, Iva Holmerová, Hana Vanková, Bozena Juraskova and Dana
Hrnciariková; Ageing in Hungary: demography and labour market challenges, Zsuzsa Széman; Population ageing in
Slovenia and social support networks of older people, Valentina Hlebec and Milivoja Šircelj. Part III Population Ageing in
South-Eastern Europe: Demographic ageing and its economic consequences in Croatia, Sandra Švaljek; Demographic
ageing in Romania – general and specific consequences on the rural population and the relation to international
migration, Ágnes Neményi; Population ageing in Bulgaria – demographic dynamics at the turn of the 21st century
(methodological analysis and solution), Emil Hristov. Part IV Societal and Policy Implications: Physical and cognitive
functions in older persons in Central and Eastern Europe, Martin Bobak, Hynek Pikhart and Michael Marmot;
Implications of population ageing for family relations and family care, Piotr Czekanowski; Demographic changes and
ageing process in Central and Eastern Europe: how sustainable are the demographic trends for the future?, Arjan
Gjonça and Edlira Gjonça; Conclusions: future prospects and policy implications for the Central and Eastern European
ageing societies in transition, Andreas Hoff; Index.
About the Editor
Andreas Hoff, Zittau-Goerlitz is a Professor of Social Gerontology, Zittau-Goerlitz University of Applied Sciences,
Germany and Research Affiliate, Oxford Institute of Ageing, University of Oxford, UK
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