Revealing the Hidden Generational Economy: National Transfer Accounts

Side Event to the 57th UN Statistical Commission

5 March 2026, 13:15 - 14:30
United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room C
New York

Overview

National Transfer Accounts (NTA) is a comprehensive framework that measures production, consumption, asset income, and transfers by age groups. NTA clarifies how population growth and changing age structure affect economic growth, public finances, and generational equity. In the context of rapid population aging, NTA provides the evidence needed to design sustainable policies. An extension of the NTA is the National Time Transfer Accounts (NTTA), which includes unpaid caregiving and domestic services within households. Additionally, building further on the NTA, National Inclusion Accounts (NTAx) disaggregate economic flows by age and socioeconomic status.

The national statistical offices of Colombia (DANE) and the Republic of Korea (MODS) have adopted the NTA as part of their official national statistics. The objectives of this event are to provide a strategic overview of NTA and related extensions (NTTA, NTAx) as decision-support tools for fiscal planning, social protection, and inclusive growth. This event showcases the implementation of NTA and to explore the policy insights that can be gained regarding the respective roles of governments, families, and financial markets in meeting the needs of individuals throughout their life cycles.

Organizers:

National Statistical Office (DANE), Colombia
Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), Republic of Korea
Population Division (UNPD), UN DESA
Statistics Division (UNSD), UN DESA

Documents

Concept note
Report

Programme