A Grim Report on Future Grabs Europe’s Attention

The economies of the European Union have been struggling, and according to a former Dutch Prime Minister, the situation will only get worse. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, over the past 10 years, US growth has averaged about 3.3 percent a year, compared to only 2.1 percent for the EU. To make matters worse, Europe simultaneously faces rising life expectancies and declining birth rates. The result: Europe will soon have fewer people of working age supporting a growing elderly population. There is no simple solution to this dilemma. Encouraging immigration might be an option for bolstering the workforce; however, political, social, and security issues may limit European willingness to accept more outsiders. Will European nations be able to support their generous social welfare systems? - YaleGlobal