저출산․고령화 사회와 디지털 포용에 관한 소고‒디지털경제협정을 중심으로‒ = A Study on Low Birth Rates, Aging Society, and Digital Inclusion ‒Focusing on Digital Economy Agreements‒

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper aims to examine the impact of the global demographic transformation marked by declining birth rates and population aging on the inclusivity structure of the international economic law and digital economy agreements, and to explore strategies within digital economy agreements to promote the digital economic participation of the elderly. Existing discussions on inclusive trade have primarily focused on women, SMEs, and indigenous peoples, with the elderly population remaining largely peripheral in trade policy discourse. However, aging constitutes a critical variable that reshapes international trade structures and alters trade strategies by driving labor market reconfigurations, shifts in consumption patterns, and differentiated capacities for technological adoption.
In the current stage, the elderly face a structural exclusion termed the “Grey Digital Divide,” which hampers their ability to function as both producers and consumers within the digital economy. Against this backdrop, this study first reviews the concept of inclusive trade and conducts a comparative analysis of digital inclusion policies adopted by international organizations and major economies, identifying the current state and limitations of approaches that aim to incorporate the elderly. Furthermore, it examines and compares the digital inclusion provisions found in recent digital economy agreements, such as the DEPA and the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, highlighting the institutional gaps in fostering the economic inclusion of the elderly.
Ultimately, the paper argues for the establishment of the elderly as an independent cooperative agenda within digital economy agreements, advocating for the introduction of a “Digital Silver Inclusion” provision and the codification of technical standardization measures into trade norms. It concludes that such initiatives could serve as an integrated strategy for establishing a sustainable trade governance framework in an era of global aging.