Dear Reader,

Economists have labeled France “the sick man of Europe”. French women, at least, seem unaffected. They not only boast of the highest life expectancy on the continent, but are also the most fertile in the European Union. Our top story looks into French demographics and why it’s so important for the rest of Europe. We also spoke with Olivier Schaal at Allianz-AGF in Paris about aging and pension reform, and interviewed an NGO expert and a scholar about migration and fertility trends.

Read the full Allianz Knowledge Newsletter, March 2008 here. Also this month, an introduction to Islamic insurance, and how it could help alleviate the impact of natural disasters throughout Southeast Asia. Enjoy reading our newsletter and don’t miss next month’s issue on World Water Day.

Your Allianz Knowledge Team