William P. Butz

Population Trends and Policies in the UNECE Region: Outcomes, Policies and Possibilities

The Report discusses recent trends in population and related outcomes as well as the policies that may influence these outcomes in the UNECE region (Europe, North America, post-Soviet Republics, and Israel), always through a lens focusing attention on the future. The Report is structured into three analytical parts. Part 1 contains a description and analysis of recent trends in population and related matters, as well as future population prospects. Part 2 focuses on analysis of policy responses to these recent demographic trends and challenges, highlighting concrete examples of policy implementation, particularly best practices across the region. We emphasize policies that appear most efficient and the conditions under which such policies best operate. Part 3 extends the two previous parts with a set of policy recommendations derived from the analysis of best practices and a forecast of possible population trends under different policy scenarios.