What does the future of social security hold for Asia? Answers to this difficult question are increasingly important as the region's population ages quickly. The sustainability of such systems remains insecure in most countries regardless of the differences and levels of services on offer. Tough challenges await the Asian countries wanting to bolster their social security systems and continue economic growth. These challenges include more thorough analysis of the complex systems in question, drawing up blueprints for reform, and gaining the support needed from citizens and political leaders to implement the reforms.
Social security is now the focus of much new research and forums aimed at solving the recent social problem. In Tokyo last weekend, a pan Asia-Pacific conference, titled "Social Security in Aging Asia," brought together about 25 top-level scholars and experts from nine countries to discuss and debate the issues at hand.
