Implementation of the Concept of Silver Economy in the Context of Demographic Challenges in Poland and the Czech Republic

Demographic transformations taking place during last decades have very dynamic character. At the same time, the pace of changes varies among particular continents, as well as within them. Demographers forecast that in the course of incoming few decades, Europe will be a continent facing the fastest process of ageing societies. This inevitably leads to significant changes, both social and economic. Possible consequences of such changes can be unfavourable for economies but can be also a chance for the development of currently not used or even not perceived potential. The aim of research presented in this article is to highlight possibilities and advantages resulting from the introduction of the silver economy concept into the economical system in the situation of forecasted demographic changes. The work analyses the situation of Poland and Czech Republic with respect to the European Union. The elaboration uses the desk research method. Basing on the presented data, we have to state that the demographic transformation will be milder in Czech Republic compared to Poland. It concerns changes in the overall population as well as more detailed measures, including fertility rate, median age, and life expectancy at birth or indexes depicting the situation of older people on the labour market. The major part of analysed data concerning both Czech Republic and Poland exhibits the same direction of changes present in these countries but Czech economy in the perspective till 2100 will better manage the process of ageing, according to predictions of demographers.