and economic progress. In lhis re6pect, the Conference gave equal consideration toA/40/7L4 Engli sh Page 13 issues of mortality, fertilify, migration and their consequences for populatlon size and structure. AII these issues are of paranount importance to the guestionof lhe aging of populations. 49. The Conference also identified the aging of populations as a major emerging themer as a phenoqrenon that will increasingly affect those parts of the world in tthich fertility is declj.ning. It emphasized the inportance of the changes that have taken place in socio-economic and demographic strucCures, as well as in social and cultural values. With respect to the aging of the population, the Conferencecalled for further efforts to be made to analyse the issues of aqing, particutarlyits implicatlons for overall developmentr social services, medical care and otherrelaled fields, bearing in mind the active contribulion that older persons can rnaketo the economic, socia! and cultural life of their families and communitv. 50. To this end. the Department of fnternational Economic and Social Affairs has included in its current work programme a study on the effect of the expectedfllortalily decline on age-sex distributions and on poticy options that {ould enable Governments to neet the ensuing needs of the elderly. Furthermore, the Departmentis planning to strengthen its study on special groups, in vlew of the new emphasison tbe aging among other groups. This emerging theme and the changes in socio-dernographic structure point to the importance of contlnuing and furtherrefining the guantitative assessment of changes in various subpopulations, such as the aging. Attention to structure-rela ted issues is already being paid,inter al.ia, to the vrork that has been undertaken by the Department on the socio-economic consequences of aging. Ilowever, the Department also recognizes the need for a more specific atudy of the' consequences of demographic change onsavings, investment, consumption, technological change, health and education,
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the impact of demographic changes, particularly the aging of populations, on various aspects of society and the economy. It highlights the need for further analysis and policy options to address the ensuing needs of the elderly, as well as the consequences of demographic change on economic, social, and cultural aspects.

**Category**
Economic development, Health, Education