OECD Crete Centre Participation in the 11th Delphi Economic Forum

The Delphi Economic Forum is an annual event that brings together political, economic, business and academic leaders to address emerging challenges, shape national and regional policy agendas, and promote sustainable and socially responsible growth in Europe, the wider Eastern Mediterranean and Greece. The 11th edition of the Forum, held in Delphi on 22–25 April 2026 under the theme “The Shock of the New,” focused on the profound economic, social and geopolitical transformations driven by technological change, demographic shifts, climate pressures and global realignments.

As part of the Delphi Economic Forum, the OECD Crete Centre on Population Dynamics co-organised the panel “Demography‑Driven Competitiveness: Strategies for Sustainable Growth, Social and Territorial Cohesion.” The discussion was opened and moderated by Professor Aris Alexopoulos, Head of the OECD Crete Centre on Population Dynamics, with the participation of Akis Skertsos, Minister of State of Greece; Tomasz Kozluk, Economic Adviser to the OECD Chief Economist; Arnstein Aassve, Professor of Demography and Social Statistics at Bocconi University; and Michalis Vlastarakis, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Eurobank.

Speakers stressed the need for coordinated policies across employment, family, education, health, housing, regional development and migration, as well as for higher labour market participation among women and older workers. The discussion underlined that, with the right policies, demographic change can support more inclusive growth, stronger productivity and resilient societies.

• Demographic change is a structural challenge with far‑reaching implications for competitiveness, productivity and social cohesion, rather than a standalone issue of ageing or low fertility.
• Countries like Greece face rapid population ageing and a shrinking working‑age population, which- if not addressed through productivity gains and higher labour participation- could significantly affect future living standards.
• Population ageing is a defining but largely predictable megatrend, driven by slow‑moving factors such as fertility and life expectancy. OECD simulations suggest that ageing alone could reduce GDP per capita by around 8% by 2050, with considerably larger impacts in countries such as Greece.
• While ageing reflects major progress towards longer and healthier lives, it poses important challenges for public finances, labour supply and productivity.
• The declining size of younger generations relative to older cohorts has implications not only for economic performance and welfare systems, but also for democratic representation, making resilience and adaptability central to future policy design.
• Coordinated policy action is required across employment, family policy, education, health, housing, regional development and migration, with particular emphasis on increasing women’s labour‑market participation and extending working lives.
• Structural reforms that promote healthy longevity, longer and more flexible careers, and the broad, beneficial adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence can substantially mitigate the economic effects of ageing.
• Addressing demographic change requires joint action by the public and private sectors, with businesses playing an active role in supporting employment, families and social cohesion.

Watch the full panel discussion in the video below.