"Over the last two decades the fiscal positions of many advanced economies have deteriorated significantly, leading to ever-growing levels of public debt and mounting concerns about debt
sustainability. Fiscal positions are set to weaken further on account of the worsening demographics which are likely to place upward pressure on public social expenditures. This book examines
key issues and policy concerns relating to fiscal sustainability and competitiveness in European and Asian economies. In addition to estimating the extent of fiscal capacity or lack thereof for
these economies, this book supplements the empirical analysis with country case studies"--