Overpopulation used to be the buzzword, but it now seems quaint, at least in the West. And, a decline in population growth presents a challenge for Western Europe, Japan and the United States. St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President William Poole says that while a growing population still causes concern in developing countries, the exact opposite is the case in the West and Japan. Populations in Western Europe and Japan keep dropping, driving up the average age of their populations. Poole tells a Jefferson City audience at Lincoln University that has made it difficult to support generous retirement packages. Poole points out the United States has, at least, ackonwledged the problem by raising the age of eligibility for Social Security. Poole says the retirement age will need to be gradually increased to avoid a cut in Social Security benefits. He adds the United States also needs to consider incentives to keep people from retiring early.
