The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) warns that the aging population will hinder economic growth in emerging Europe, reducing GDP per capita.

In a recent report, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) emphasizes that the slowdown in population growth will severely affect long-term economic prospects. Demographic aging has already begun to slow economic growth in some countries, and in emerging Europe, an annual decline in GDP per capita of nearly 0.4 percentage points is expected between 2024 and 2050. EBRD's Chief Economist, Beata Javorcik, mentioned that post-communist nations are aging before they become wealthy, with a median age of 37 years and an average GDP of 10,000 dollars. Although many countries are applying incentives to increase birth rates, these have not had a significant impact. The report suggests that migration is not an acceptable political solution, and the use of artificial intelligence to improve productivity raises ambivalences. Javorcik emphasizes the need for a mature discussion about demographic trends and retraining to face future challenges. It is also noted that the leaders of countries are becoming older than the population, which complicates the adoption of effective measures. EBRD urges countries to capitalize on the window of opportunity provided by the demographic dividend, especially in the context of declining birth rates in other regions.