To assess which nations are best or worst positioned to grow, look first at projections for growth or shrinkage in the working-age population, to gauge the potential baseline gain for future economic growth. Just as important, track which countries are doing the most or the least to leverage whatever population gains they will enjoy. Are they opening the workforce to the elderly, to women, to foreigners? Are they taking steps to increase the talent level of the workforce, particularly by attracting highly skilled migrants? In a world facing a future of growing labor shortages, it’s all
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