Demographic Shift and Policy Futures

Analyze the long-term effects of a population characterized by rising median age and shrinking size on labor markets, pension systems, healthcare demand, and intergenerational equity. Develop a policy-design framework that combines workforce participation, automation, retirement age adjustments, and selective immigration to maintain economic vitality and social cohesion. Then create three fictional country profiles with different demographic trajectories and compare the likely trade-offs and policy outcomes.