RI's changing demographics: pros and cons

RI's changing demographics: pros and cons

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has undergone sweeping demographic
changes over the past 25 years thanks to its highly successful
family planning program, population experts say.

Declining birth and mortality rates, coupled with rising life
expectancies and migration have changed the population mix in
Indonesia, something that policy makers should take into account
while plotting the nation's development.

The Demography Research and Development Center of the
University of Indonesia will hold a seminar on April 18 to
discuss the problems and challenges facing Indonesia in what
experts describe as a demographic revolution.

"The major question that needs to be urgently addressed is how
the national development should be carried out in accordance with
the demographic changes," Aris Ananta of the demographic center
told reporters yesterday.

The meeting, which will feature demographers and senior
scientists, will be held as part of the celebration of the
center's 30th anniversary. The center falls under the School of
Economics at the state university.

Dwiantini J. Fergus, one of the demographers tipped to address
the meeting, said the seminar will also discuss the conditions of
labor market and productivity in relation to the composition of
the population in the year 2005 when the demographic transition
is predicted to cease. (rms)