The 2003 Aging Vulnerability Index

The CSIS Aging Vulnerability Index represents the first attempt to develop a comprehensive measure of the global aging challenge that is comparable across the developed countries. The Index not only looks at the projected growth in pay-as-you-go public pension and health-care programs like Social Security and Medicare, but also takes into account the broader social and economic environment, including the “fiscal room” that countries have to adjust to the challenge and the availability of alternative means of support, from private pensions to extended families. The bottom line is a ranking of the major developed countries in terms of their “vulnerability” to rising old-age dependency costs.