Book Reviews/The demographic black hole in the European Union

THE DEMOGRAPHIC BLACK HOLE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Aaron W. Andreason Department of Management and Marketing School of Business Administration University of Montana

Douglas R. Miller Washington State University Dept. of Management and Operations

Abstract
Low fertility rates in EU countries since the 1960s are bringing about a number of economic and social consequences which will have a negative impact on productivity, economic growth, social-welfare programs, patterns of immigration, Europe's ability to pull its weight diplomatically, culturally and militarily in the 21st century; and the very survival of the EU itself. Because of the current network of global trade and financial linkages international business and world prosperity could also be significantly impacted. Whether or not the worst of these consequences occur, however, depends upon the actions governments take and how they are able to manage the factors that limit needed solutions. The conclusion to this study is that no single policy intervention will resolve the situation and that governments need to move quickly and aggressively on several fronts in order to avoid the demographic and economic collapse of the EU itself.