The demographic shaping of Europe
An increasingly globalised world brings forth additional social, economic, cultural and technological challenges. Europe 2020 involves a strategy to help Europe rise out of the economic crisis via smart, sustainable growth. Thus, human capital becomes the continent's main asset. What this entails in order to work effectively is a constant assessment of how Europeans live and what choices they make. Essentially, demographic developments shape multiple spheres of society and since they are ever-changing, they pose challenges for public policymakers. The EU-funded GGP project delved into in-depth means of explaining causes and consequences of demographic developments. The relationship between genders and generations were two particular aspects of the study. One of the major tools used in the project was the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), through which micro-level data were collected. The GGS focused on the whole adult population; hence, it included research and policy issues across an entire life span, collecting on the same person in 3-year intervals. Respondents were interviewed in person and a multidisciplinary questionnaire was used that covered a broad range of topics. Additionally, the GGP developed a Generations and Gender Contextual Database (CDB). The CDB supports research on influences at the macro level and processes at the micro level. Thus, both individual and contextual levels were considered. Researchers were also able to examine macro trends across time and space. Quantitative indicators were used and are able to cover national-level data as well as sub-national and regional data. Overall, an infrastructure was developed allowing for a new understanding of the factors that foster demographic developments. The team also carried out an integrated analysis of the micro-level demographic choices made by individuals and households within various contexts. The project was able to break new ground by integrating novel research areas and improving the quality of measurement instruments, cost effectiveness of survey data and comparability of data across countries. Contextual data of approximately 100 indicators were harmonised and made available in the GGP Contextual Database. These span 60 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. The indicators are available on the GGP website.
Keywords
Demographics, policymaking, sustainable growth, human capital, demographic developments, genders, generations, Generations and Gender Survey, micro-level data
