Mauricio Apablaza
In Las Últimas Noticias, academic Mauricio Apablaza analyzes projections regarding Chile’s aging population and declining birth rates. In the interview, he warns that Chile is facing rapid demographic change marked by an aging population and a decline in births. As he explains, this transition will have direct effects on the economy and public services, due to the shrinking working-age population and increased demand for healthcare and pensions. However, he also argues that the phenomenon opens up opportunities associated with the “silver economy,” with new industries linked to caregiving, continuing education, and tourism for older adults. In this context, he maintains that the country must move forward with integrated policies that include measures to boost the birth rate, work-family balance, strategic migration, increased labor force participation, and institutional preparedness for an aging society.
