Finding Trouble Spots Before They Emerge

摘要

When tackling long-term planning for future military engagements, experts must take demographics into account as they try to anticipate events before they erupt and surprise decision makers. Thirty-year projections of conditions will originate from today's decisions. Defense plans must address the longer life span of ships, aircraft and combat equipment as well as the retirement of people just now entering into military service. Planners also have to anticipate how troops will cope with a different global population composition. Some current indicators will shape the approach to dealing with situations in different countries. Much of this open source information is based on an analysis of data from 180 countries that is now available from the World Bank.