Introduced by: Professor Sarah Harper, Director, Oxford Institute of Ageing

Presented by: Dr Philip Kreager, of the Oxford Institute of Ageing and Somerville College, who contributed to the publication of this important work, will be presenting on its relevance to today’s societies.

This publication is the product of the uniquely interdisciplinary Conference on “The Impact of Ageing, a Common Challenge for Europe and Asia,” which took place in Vienna from 7 to 9 June 2006 – details of which can be located on the website www.univie.ac.at/impactofageing.

The volume paints a compelling picture of the multifarious impact of ageing in Europe and Asia in a rare interdisciplinary approach comprising the latest findings and data in demography, economy and society, law and social welfare, as well as biomedicine.

This European-Asian interdisciplinary cross section represents world renowned experts in their relevant field of research; providing a succinct description of both mutuality and divergence in the progress of ageing in European and Asian population trends that will transform the world in fundamental ways by 2050.

The Oxford Institute of Ageing acknowledges the kind support of the Austrian Embassy, and their interest in this publication.

Philip Kreager received his D.Phil (Social Anthropology) at Oxford in 1980, since when he has taught demography and anthropology at the London School of Economics and in the Institute of Human Sciences, Oxford University. He is currently Lecturer in Human Sciences, Somerville College, and Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Oxford Institute of Ageing.

His research interests embrace ageing, anthropological demography, and the historical development of population theory. His regional specialism is Indonesia. Particular topics in the area of ageing include:

• Combined Qualitative and Quantitative methods
• Comparative Family and Kinship Systems
• Institutions of Civil Society and their relation to Local Government
• Childlessness
• Migration and Social Networks